Put your full attention elsewhere and lighten the mental load. Oftentimes, seeking out a distraction is the easiest way to put a stop to repetitive thoughts. So put that mental energy to good use and make it a healthy one. And yes, that includes self-care.

You should give yourself time to dwell, just not too much time. Avoiding what’s going on within us is never a good idea. Carve out a window to obsess and stick to it. Let’s say you make your weekly date to dwell from 7 to 8 p.m. Once your time is up, cut yourself off.

Focus your awareness on the present moment and calmly recognize and accept exactly where you’re at and how you’re feeling. Notice your thoughts. Notice your bodily sensations. The beauty of mindfulness is it’s never not good for your state of being.

Call someone you enjoy talking to. Meet up for coffee. No matter what, turn to someone you can trust to be there when your thoughts feel out of control. When problems weigh us down, those we can talk to allow us to lift the weight of our thoughts and consider other perspectives instead of spinning and spiraling.