Make sure you're taking plenty of breaks, especially when you're working on a particularly challenging or stressful task.
While taking breaks may seem counterproductive, giving yourself rest actually ensures that you'll be able to focus in the long run.
#2
Keep a notebook handy for your random thoughts so you can revise them later.
Sometimes mental chatter can be incredibly annoying because it distracts you from working on something you need to be doing.
When you experience these thoughts, jot them down in your notebook. This ensures that you won't forget them and can resist them once your major task is complete.
#3
Reach out to someone when you need to get something off your mind.
Talking to someone else is a great way to get those racing thoughts out in the open and outside of your head. When those thoughts stay trapped in your mind, you can begin to ruminate and develop negative thinking patterns that can be taught to break.
#4
Engage in a distracting activity you really, truly enjoy
Whatever your distracting activity "guilty pleasure" is, take some time to engage in it, especially when you feel your thoughts racing and need to quiet your mind.
#5
Engage in some physical activity each day.
Movement - no matter how you prefer to do it - is an excellent way to silence a worried, chattering mind. Rigorous activity helps you burn off nervous energy and stimulates the release of feel good hormones in the brain.