There is nothing worse than being out with someone and being in your own head so much that you can’t even enjoy their company. You want to get out of your head, but your thoughts keep overwhelming you and you can’t seem to shut them out.

We all get stuck in our heads from time to time. Getting out of your head can be super beneficial to you. 

What Exactly Does It Mean to Be in Your Head?

It means that you analyze every single thing you do which can lead to things such as depression, social anxiety, and irrelevant fears.

Getting out of your head brings you to the present moment where all you think about it is what is actually happening at this moment. You don’t analyze every movement you make or think “I wonder what everyone is thinking about me” when you are talking to someone. You are present in the moment and not in your own irrelevant thoughts.

It can hurt your life in so many ways when you are constantly in your head. I know firsthand as I had social anxiety and the only reason why I had it was because I was in my own head too much.

Social Anxiety Can Be a Result of Being in Your Own Head Too Much

I had social anxiety appear completely out of the blue for me. Of course, I am the type of person that wants to understand why and how I can fix it. I didn’t have it for 30 years so why all of a sudden was it happening? The number one reason why I was getting social anxiety was that I was in my head too much.

You see, I didn’t always have social anxiety. The times I felt fine and completely normal was the times that I was present in the conversation I was having. It is when I didn’t analyze everything I said but I was generally interested in what the other person was saying. I wasn’t judging myself.

For me, social anxiety was the result of feeling unworthy, vulnerable, and being in my own head WAY too much. When I was in my own head I noticed I was more prone to getting social anxiety and a flushed face. I could feel myself getting flushed when I was more in my head and that lead to me not wanting to be around people as much. It was a continuous, vicious circle and it all stemmed from being in my own head too much.

How to Get Out of Your Head to Stop Thinking So Much & Start Doing 

#1 Way to Get Out of Your Head – Move Around

I found it super helpful to move around when you are in your head too much. Why is this? It is because when you start moving, you are grounding yourself to earth and therefore making yourself present at the moment. When you are present you are out of your head and in your body.

Also, if you are distracting yourself it really brings you out of your head. Your mind can only focus on so much at a time. So, if it is occupied thinking about your movements it doesn’t have space to think about how everyone is viewing you and to be so much in your head.

#2 Way to Get Out of Your Head – Keep Yourself Busy

The more time you have to think, the more time you have to make up false scenarios in your head. When you are busy you don’t have time to think about other things besides what you are doing at the moment. Being busy is one of the best ways to not be in your own head.

#3 Way to Get Out of Your Head – Think About the Person You Are Talking to, Not About Yourself

We tend to think about ourselves – A LOT. It’s not a bad thing however, it can contribute to worrying about what someone else thinks.

So, next time you are having a conversation with someone, instead of thinking “I wonder what they are thinking of me?” & “I wonder how I am coming across?” shift your thoughts to “how are they coming across?” & “what an interesting topic they are telling me about.” Shifting your perception to them instead of you will help you to get out of your head.

#4 Way to Get Out of Your Head – Take an Exercise Class

This is similar to number one, but I mean actually spending an hour a day doing some type of exercise. I guarantee during that one hour that within the first 5 minutes all your thoughts for the day will shift to what you are actually doing in class. You aren’t analyzing your every movement, but you are only focusing on the task at hand.

That is why I feel so amazing during an hour of CrossFit class. I am only focused on the movements and what we are doing during that time. All my thoughts for the day completely disappear and stay away for a short time after the workout. It is one of the best ways to get out of your own head.

A group exercise class is best for this because when you work out by yourself thoughts can creep up. However, when you are in a group, you are socializing with them and different things are going on that are distracting you from being in your own head.

Bottom Line: How to Get Out of Your Head

Getting out of your head is one of the most important things to do to help eliminate social anxiety and depression. Social anxiety has so much to do with what we think others are thinking of us and being in our own heads allows up to make up false scenarios.

Also, being in our heads too much can harm relationships. When we are more focused on the false scenario that someone is thinking about us instead of just listening to what they are actually saying, then we aren’t giving them our full attention. It isn’t fair to them.

Try the steps above to get out of your head and into the present moment more. Eventually, you won’t have to try so hard and it will become natural for you to be out of your head and in the present moment.

~Meghan