[NikoleS]

Add to the list if you wish!

~Watch YouTube videos
~Take a bath/shower
~Paint your nails
~Color
~Draw
~Fix your makeup
~Build something
~Clean
~Cook
~Pet your animals (or someone else's)
~Sing
~Write music
~Play an instrument
~Talk to a friend
~Watch TV
~Go outside
~Go swimming
~Exercise
~Paint
~Bathe your animals
~Play with animals/children
~Dance
~Research
~Hang out with friends
~Scrapbook
~Listen to music
~Take a nap
~Go for a drive
~Write in a journal
~Browse forums
~Get dressed up
~Play video games

[-jimi-]

Bathing my cat would be the best distraction in the world. Then I'd have to get stitches.....

[OliverB]

Thank you, i found it helpful today I am distressed

[Nix]

I practice controlled breathing techniques and I find that that helps me.

[Marla500]

I am learning the hard way that avoiding too much caffeine is also necessary! Obvious I know but hard to break the habit!

[NikoleS]

Originally Posted by Marla500

I am learning the hard way that avoiding too much caffeine is also necessary! Obvious I know but hard to break the habit!

It's definitely a hard habit to break!
I think it's worse than smoking because I quit smoking 5 months ago easily.

~painting
~working
~playing a video game (preferably face-paced, to keep you away from thoughts)
~exercising
~gazing at my fish
~letting it pass if it's too much

[Nicknamed Mouse]

Thank you for sharing this list it ready does help..

[Nicknamed Mouse]

~ Photography
~ getting an annual pass somewhere local, so you can freely visit and get away from your own thoughts.
~ talking

[Rob1713]

An anti-anxiety/negative thought/stress technique that works for me when having to frequently face my "phobia" of public speaking. Prior to getting up there I do this:

Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds. Hold for 7 seconds. Breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat as necessary.

Sounds so simple, yet for me it works. It doesn't completely take away the negative emotions, but instead helps contain them a little. Makes them easier to deal with. It kind of focuses my attention onto what's necessary too. Apparently you can't think about negative emotions too much when you're holding your breath... nobody go and bust a lung now!

[MuseumGhost]

I love all the suggestions so far. Pretty much anything I would be able to suggest has already been mentioned, in one form or another.

I can add that doing things for others (who are probably in worse shape than you) is a helpful way to get out of your own head for awhile. It keeps things in perspective, and the time flies whenever you are there for somebody else, and not too intensely wrapped up in what's bothering you.

A simple change of scenery can sometimes work, too, now that I'm doing better than I was.....

Tackling things you've been meaning to get at for awhile can be very helpful and satisfying, too.

camping, hiking, paddling

[MuseumGhost]

Yes, yes, justafriend!

That reminds me, there are some excellent extended-play music and sound loops on Youtube that are really relaxing. (Sounds of nature, birds in a meadow, sounds of the woodlands and seaside, etc.) You can watch the gentle scenery, or just let the sounds wash over you. I find these work really well for me...when I remember to use them!

And they are outstanding, for when I need a bit of outdoors but can't actually get there.....

bouncing a ball to music. (serious suggestion, I promise)

looking at pictures of things you enjoy (in my case, the lion king)

singing along to the radio (even if you can't sing)

hug a teddy bear

tear something up that's completely useless to you (an old picture, or document)

find some interesting sites on the internet (I love smilezilla, great updated list of daily jokes)

dance

Shamanic Journeying

[Sunflower123]

An app called Calm that has soothing scenes and sounds. If you subscribe to it there are meditations for various things and a Daily Calm meditation that's helped me a lot.

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

An app called Calm that has soothing scenes and sounds. If you subscribe to it there are meditations for various things and a Daily Calm meditation that's helped me a lot.

that sounds really good

where can I get it?

I used to use calm radio for my calming music and nature sounds, but well, 1 word.

comercials

[lilypup]

I also recommend Calm. I got it as an iPhone app.