Welcome back to my series on avoiding overwhelm while balancing multiple passions. 

As someone with many interests, I know how exciting it is to be multi-passionate. But, I also know it can make you feel scattered, overwhelmed, and stretched too thin.

I’m here to share tips for bringing more balance into your life.

In case you missed the other posts in this series:

Post 1 explained the importance of managing overwhelm as a multi-passionate individual. Click here to read!

Post 2 focused on self-care practices to feel your best during stressful moments. Click here to read!

Post 3 shared how implementing routines can help you feel more grounded and calm. Click here to read!

Today’s post is about how healthy distractions can help you better manage overwhelm.

What are Healthy Distractions?

“Healthy distractions” are enjoyable activities that give your mind a break from stressful or overwhelming emotions. 

When life feels chaotic, healthy distractions can help you feel calm and centered. 

What are some activities or hobbies that bring you peace? I’d love to hear them—share in the comments!

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

How Healthy Distractions Can Soothe Overwhelm

 It’s easy to get caught up in everything you think you “should” be doing, which can lead to overwhelm. Healthy distractions provide a much-needed mental break, helping you reset without neglecting your responsibilities.

Unlike unhealthy distractions, which can lead to procrastination or avoidance, healthy distractions allow you to temporarily step away, giving you a chance to refresh. You’ll return to your projects feeling more relaxed, focused, and energized.

How to Get Started:

Once you understand the purpose of healthy distractions, the next step is to identify the activities that help you feel your best. For example, crocheting helps me calm my mind. Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Healthy Distraction Examples

🤍Comfort entertainment

There is nothing like leaning into a comfort show/movie/book to soothe your soul. Spending time with familiar entertainment can feel like a warm hug. Currently, I find joy in watching reruns of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

What is your go-to comfort show/movie/book?

🤍Spend time with loved ones

Quality time with people you care about (and who care about you) can do wonders for your mental well-being. That sense of connection might be just what you need to calm your mind.

🤍Spend time in nature

Nature has powerful mental health benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood, and improved focus. Assistant professor at the University of Washington, Gregory Bratman, PhD, and colleagues shared that spending time in nature “is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress” (Science Advances, Vol. 5, No. 7, 2019).

Whether it’s a neighborhood walk, a hike with friends, or a trip to a local park, spending time outdoors is great self-care for stress relief.

🤍Spend time with animals

Research shows that animals positively impact our mental health. If you have pets at home, spending time with them can help reduce stress and anxiety. 

Don’t have pets? No problem!

 I get these same benefits by spending time with my friends’ pets and volunteering at a local cat shelter.

🤍Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to get out of your head while giving back to the community. Spending time helping others can offer a sense of fulfillment and allow you to distance yourself from stress. 

🤍Crafts

Crafts are a fun and effective stress relief tool. Read this blog post to learn all about the mental health benefits of crafting. I find the repetitive nature of crocheting very soothing.

Whether it’s drawing, painting, knitting, crocheting, or something else, tapping into your creativity can help distract you from stressful situations. If you’ve been thinking about trying a new craft, take this as your sign to start!

Do you use crafting as a stress management tool? Let me know your favorite projects in the comments!

🤍Coloring books

Even if you don’t think you’re a “creative person,” activities like coloring books offer the same benefits in a more structured way. I love how meditative and relaxing coloring is. 

You can buy coloring books full of fun patterns or find free coloring pages online to print.

🤍Meditation

Meditation helps you find peace in the present moment, which can reduce stress and anxiety. 

I love how meditation helps me slow down and feel more centered, even when life feels chaotic. 

You can still get these benefits, even if meditation isn’t your thing! Check out this blog post to learn about 17 mindfulness practices that aren’t meditation.

🤍Joyful movement

Joyful movement is any type of physical activity that makes you feel your best. For me, this is walks, yoga, and sometimes Pilates. For you, it might be hiking, biking, rock climbing, workout classes, going to the gym, or another form of movement. It doesn’t matter how you move your body, all that matters is that it feels nourishing to you.

Studies show that exercise can reduce tension, improve sleep, elevate and stabilize mood, and improve self-esteem, all of which can help counteract overwhelm!

🤍Clean your room

If you are feeling stuck and/or overwhelmed, cleaning your room might be just the mental reset you need.  

The other day, I finally tackled my messy room, and I already feel more calm and clear-headed. An organized space really does lead to an organized mind!

Try pairing cleaning with a good podcast, audiobook, movie, or show to make it more fun!

To sum it up, healthy distractions help you focus on positive activities and improve your overall well-being.

What mindful healthy distractions help you feel your best? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

I hope these tips help you manage overwhelm as a multi-passionate individual. If you haven’t already, remember to read post 1, post 2, and post 3 of this series. If you know someone who is feeling overwhelmed, these posts might offer some needed support. Don’t forget to send them along!

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