How To Stop Talking About Things That Don't Matter

Medically reviewed by Paige Henry, LMSW, J.D. and April Justice, LICSW
Updated November 27, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team
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Are you ruminating on a subject?

It can be frustrating to find yourself hung up on things you don't want to be hung up on. Whether it's a past relationship, an old conflict, past embarrassments, or something else entirely, you may find yourself thinking and talking about things that don't matter to you. In this article, we'll talk about techniques for moving past subjects you don't want to discuss and how to get unstuck and focused on the things that matter to you. 

Tap into your passions

The things you find important and stimulating may differ from what other people find important. In other words, it could be valuable to assess whether what you're talking about matters to you. 

If you aren’t sure what your hobbies or passions are, consider trying to identify things you enjoy doing. Once you know your passions or hobbies, try to spend time thinking and talking about them – instead of things that don't matter to you. 

Seeking out those who share your interests and understand your motivations can help revitalize your interest in life and give you the opportunity for self-discovery and mutual growth.

Letting go of what we cannot control

There are many things in life we can't control. For instance, you cannot control how other people behave. No matter how hard you may try, even if you are right and they are wrong, you cannot make anyone act like you want them to. 

Similarly, you also cannot control how other people feel. You may be trying to convince someone that they do not need to worry about something, but you cannot make someone feel a certain way, relax someone just by telling them to relax, or make someone happy just by telling them to be happy. Although talking to others about their feelings is okay, trying to convince them to feel or not feel a certain way is an example of falling into the trap of talking about things that you can’t control. 

You cannot control the weather, time, or the past. No matter how nice it would be to take back past regrets or speed through tough times, it isn’t possible. While talking about your experiences in your past or present is normal and healthy, if you find yourself stuck talking about things you can’t control, consider trying to focus on things you can, like your effort, honesty, passions, and actions.

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Take a deeper look

Consider taking time to identify the themes in your life, specifically keeping an eye out for the things that bring you joy. This can be as simple as your eating schedule, when and under what circumstances you work best, or what snacks or drinks make you feel your best.

Consider journal writing

Consider journaling about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to see if any common themes arise. Doing so can help you better understand yourself and may illuminate why you’re stuck in certain thought patterns. 

Concentrate on things that are important

Another way to help you stop concentrating on things that don't matter is by concentrating on things that do matter. Think more about being happy by doing things you love to do and spending time with those you most enjoy interacting with. Concentrate more on being healthy and relaxed. Try to hang around with positive people who make you feel good—because being around negative people who bring you down may not be good for your mental and physical health and may keep you talking about things you don’t want to discuss. 

Reach out for help on how to stop talking about things that don't matter

There can come a time when you start to feel as if you don't have appropriate channels for your energy, leading you to experience distress and frustration as you get further trapped in negative thought patterns. 

If you can’t break out of the thought patterns and stop talking about things that don’t matter to you, consider therapy. 

Consider therapy for better mental health

With therapy, you can talk to a mental health care expert experienced in handling all types of mental and emotional health concerns. There are also quite a few support groups with people who have the same or similar issues as you. Talking to others who share your hardships can be helpful. However, if talking to a therapist in person doesn’t seem plausible, consider online therapy. With online therapy, you can talk about whatever you want from the comfort of your home and get guidance on what is and isn’t something you need to stop talking about. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

Research shows that online therapy can help those living with anxiety or similar mental health issues find meaning in life and eliminate extraneous distractions. In a study published in Current Opinion in Psychiatry, researchers stated that online therapy is effective in treating anxiety, noting specifically the benefits of online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). 

Online cognitive therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy works by replacing unhelpful thoughts—such as those related to distracting or trivial subjects—in those experiencing mental health issues.

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Are you ruminating on a subject?

Takeaway

If you find yourself stuck thinking or talking about a topic that doesn’t matter, focusing on your hobbies and the things you can control and taking a deeper look at your life and thought patterns can be helpful. However, if you feel like you can’t stop thinking or talking about a topic, consider contacting a licensed therapist for help. They can help you make sense of your thoughts, find peace, and move forward onto things that matter to you.
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