Loading...

Changing Your Thinking Habits

Recent Articles

All Articles

Try This Small Experiment to Stop Worrying What Others Think

You know that feeling when you walk into a room and you just know everyone is staring at you?

When You Think You Know What Others Are Thinking (But You Don’t)

Do you ever catch yourself being a mind reader?

The Sustaining Spark: Maintaining Motivation in the Laboratory

The initial excitement of a new hypothesis, the crisp order of a fresh lab notebook, the gleaming promise of untouched equipment—these are the easy fuels for scientific work.

Why Writing Down Your Worries Makes Them Less Scary

You know that feeling when a worry keeps bouncing around in your head?

How to Stop Thinking the Worst

Have you ever had a thought pop into your head that just snowballs?

Try a Tiny Test: What Happens When You Ask for Directions?

Imagine you’re walking down a street you don’t know well.

How a Brain Dump Can Calm Your Racing Mind

Have you ever had one of those nights where your brain just won’t shut off?

How to Catch Your Brain Tricking You

Have you ever had one of those days where one small thing goes wrong, and suddenly your brain tells you that the whole day is ruined?

Recognizing Unbalanced and Negative Thought Patterns

The human mind is a constant narrator, weaving an internal dialogue that shapes our perception of the world and ourselves.

All-or-Nothing Thinking: How to Stop Seeing Everything in Black and White

Have you ever messed up one little thing and then told yourself, “Well, the whole day is ruined”?

The Gentle Art of Self-Kindness: A Daily Practice

Being kinder to myself is not a grand, one-time declaration but a quiet, daily revolution in how I move through the world.

Tame Your Fears by Trying Tiny Tests

What if your biggest fears are like monsters in a movie that turn out to be made of paper?

Quick Tips

What can I do if I need to distract my worried mind?

Find one ordinary thing and give it your full attention. For example, try to find every blue object in the room, or count all the tiles on the ceiling. You could also try to remember all the words to your favorite song. The goal is to pick a simple, boring task that forces your mind to focus on something other than the worry. It’s like giving the worried part of your brain a puzzle to solve so it takes a break from making you feel anxious.

Why is it so hard to stop negative thoughts?

Telling yourself “stop thinking that!“ doesn’t work well because your brain focuses on the very thing you’re trying to avoid—like being told not to picture a pink elephant. It’s more effective to notice the thought without fighting it. Say to yourself, “Okay, I’m having the thought that this will go badly.“ Then, gently shift your focus to what you’re doing right now, like feeling your feet on the floor or listing three things you can see. This helps the thought lose its power and float away like a cloud.

What’s a simple way to get started today?

The easiest way to start is to tie moving to something you already do. Promise yourself you’ll walk around your house for two minutes right after you brush your teeth in the morning. Or, do five big stretches before you eat lunch. By connecting it to a habit you already have, you don’t have to think about it. Just start small and be kind to yourself. The goal is to build a habit that makes you feel good, not to add another stressful “should-do” task to your day.

What if I can’t get the hang of it at first?

That’s completely normal! It might feel strange at first because we’re used to taking shallow breaths. If you’re struggling, try lying on your back with a small book or stuffed animal on your belly. Watch it rise as you breathe in and fall as you breathe out. This gives you a clear visual to focus on. Don’t get frustrated. It’s not a test. Even taking just one or two deeper, slower breaths is a win and can help you feel a little bit better.

How can I tell when my body’s alarm is going off?

You can tell your alarm is sounding by paying attention to the signals your body is sending you. Your heart might start beating really fast, like you just ran a race. You might breathe quicker or find it hard to take a deep breath. Your shoulders could feel tight and rise up toward your ears, or your hands might feel cold and clammy. Sometimes, your stomach might feel funny, or you might get a headache. Just noticing these body clues is the first step to calming the alarm down.