Taking Your Mind Off Something

B1 video lesson on distraction, exercise, journaling, sleep and talking about feelings.

Lesson Overview

Students watch a short advice video about how to take your mind off something. The lesson practises B1 language for feelings, distraction, exercise, journaling, sleep and talking to someone you trust.

Before you watch

What do you do when you cannot stop thinking about something?
Which activity helps you relax: music, cooking, reading or exercise?
Who can you talk to when you feel stressed?

Take Your Mind Off Something

Open video on YouTube

Prep

Drag the correct ending into each gap.

1. If you take your mind off something,...

2. If an activity distracts you,...

3. If you feel unpleasant,...

4. If you write in a journal,...

5. If you drift off,...

6. If you talk to someone you trust,...

Mixed answer options

you write your private thoughts in a notebook.you feel bad or uncomfortable.you speak to someone safe and reliable.you stop thinking about it for a while.it takes your attention away from something.you slowly fall asleep.

Watch the Video

Watch the full video once. Focus on the different pieces of advice and the reason each one can help.

Focus: take your mind off, distract, exercise, endorphins, better mood, journal, clear your mind, drift off, talk to someone you trust.

Open full video

Comprehension

Click each question to reveal the answer. Each question is synced to the video time.

0:00What kind of activity can help you take your mind off something?

An activity you really enjoy, such as reading, cooking or listening to music, can help.

0:11Why can enjoyable activities help?

They can distract you from the thing you do not want to think about.

0:16What kinds of exercise does the video suggest?

It suggests going for a run or doing yoga.

0:21How does exercise help your mood?

It shifts your focus from your mind to your body and releases endorphins.

0:29What should you try if you cannot fall asleep?

You can try writing down your thoughts in a journal.

0:41What can you do if nothing else is working?

You can talk to someone you trust about what is going on.

Vocabulary from the Video

Take your mind something.

Do something you really .

An activity can help you.

Exercise shifts your .

Exercise releases .

Writing can help clear your .

It can be easier to drift .

Talk to someone you .

Mixed options

mindofftrustenjoyendorphinsfocusdistractoff

Vocabulary Review

Word / phrase	Meaning	Example
take your mind off something	stop thinking about something for a while	Music helps me take my mind off stress.
distract	take attention away from something	Cooking can distract you from worries.
unpleasant	bad or uncomfortable	I had an unpleasant thought.
exercise	physical activity	Exercise can improve your mood.
shift your focus	move your attention to something else	Exercise shifts your focus to your body.
endorphins	chemicals in the body that can make you feel good	Exercise releases endorphins.
journal	a notebook for personal thoughts	Write your thoughts in a journal.
clear your mind	make your thoughts calmer	Writing can clear your mind.
drift off	slowly fall asleep	It was easier to drift off.
trust	believe someone is safe and honest	Talk to someone you trust.
avoid	try not to do or think about something	Avoiding thoughts can make them worse.
feel better	feel happier or calmer	Talking might help you feel better.

Collocations

take your mind

listen to your favorite

go for a

do some

write in a

talk to someone you

Mixed options

runoffjournaltrustmusicyoga

Phrasal Verb Questions

What helps you take your mind stress?

What time do you usually drift at night?

Who do you open when you feel worried?

What thoughts do you need to write ?

What activity helps you calm ?

Mixed options

offdownup tooffdown

Speaking extension: Answer the five phrasal verb questions with a partner. Then choose the best advice from the video.

B1 Grammar: Can / Try + -ing / Imperatives for Advice

We can use these forms to give simple advice.

Form	Example
You can + verb	You can try exercising.
Try + -ing	Try writing down your thoughts.
Imperative	Talk to someone you trust.

Grammar Exercise 1: Complete the advice

You can try .

Try writing your thoughts.

Talk to someone you .

Listen to your favorite .

Do something you .

Mixed options

musictrustexercisingenjoydown

Error Correction

You can trying exercising.

You can try exercising.

Try write down your thoughts.

Try writing down your thoughts.

Talk someone you trust.

Talk to someone you trust.

Listen your favorite music.

Listen to your favorite music.

Sentence Transformations

Use “You can”.
Exercise to feel better.

Use “Try + -ing”.
Write down your thoughts.

Use an imperative.
You should talk to someone you trust.

Discussion

What activity helps you take your mind off problems?
Do you prefer reading, cooking, music or exercise?
Does exercise help your mood? Why?
Have you ever written in a journal?
Why can writing things down help people sleep?
Is it easy to talk about unpleasant thoughts?
Who is a good person to talk to when you feel worried?

Useful Language

Giving advice	Talking about feelings	Responding
You can... Try... It might help to...	I feel stressed when... I worry about...	That’s a good idea. I might try that.

Role Play: Giving Advice

Situation: One student cannot stop thinking about a problem. The other student gives kind, practical advice.

Student A: Worried Friend

Explain that you cannot stop thinking about something unpleasant and you cannot sleep well.

Student B: Helpful Friend

Suggest activities, exercise, journaling and talking to someone trusted.

Challenge

Use: take your mind off, try writing down, go for a run, talk to someone you trust, feel better.