Chatter is unavoidable as we all deal with negative thoughts in our head. You can reduce chatter by creating distance between yourself and the chatter. If you observe the chatter as if it were someone else’s, it helps make the stress of the chatter less immediate and puts you in a better place to find ways of defeating it. You can also seek sources of involuntary attention like nature to help reset your mind. Once you are able to diminish the chatter in your head, it becomes easier for you to focus on the tasks in front of you that matter most.
About the Author
Ethan Kross is a psychologist who has served as a professor of psychology and management at the University of Michigan. In 2013, alongside Philippe Verduyn, he published a study that showed that the more people used Facebook, the less happy they were with their lives.
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It was published in 2021 as his first book.
