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Have you found yourself snacking more than normally lately? Can't stop thinking about food? Take heart, even nutritionists say it's normal. As you sit home for long periods of time and learn how to navigate the stresses of what's going on in the world, or even need a breather from your new work-from-home lifestyle, it's normal to want to gear your attention towards something else. "Your brain needs breaks from concentration," says Dr. Rachel Paul, PhD, RD from CollegeNutritionist.com. "It's normal to switch your focus."

And yes, it's normal to immediately switch your attention to food. Especially in stressful times.

"Using food to cope with emotions such as boredom is a normal part of the common human experience," says Crystal Cascio, RDN and Health Coach for the Anticancer Lifestyle Program. "With that being said, when we're constantly using food to cope with boredom is when we can experience negative impacts on our overall health and well-being."

But here's the deal—you have the power to quiet those negative thoughts. Once you learn to rewire your brain and recognize your triggers, those blaring thoughts will simmer down to a whisper and eventually completely disappear so you can stay on track and make decisions about food that you can feel good about. Thanks to a few pointers from nutritionists and online health coaches, here are some easy ways to switch your focus and how to stop thinking about food.

Get out of the kitchen and go outside for a walk (or a jog) and get your mind refocused on something besides food. "Exercise has also been associated with reduced food cravings," says Josh York, founder and CEO of GYMGUYZ. "Perceived hunger may stem from boredom, so going for a walk or jog can help distract and entertain the mind."

"Sometimes all your body is craving is a little movement," says Katie Boyd, Nutritionist, M.S. "When I get the belly growls I lace up my sneakers and go for a twenty-minute walk and when I come back in the house the hunger has totally subsided."

Sometimes a change of scenery can help your mindset, especially when you're next to a window. Dr. Paul recommends finding a window that is cozy for you and read that book you've always wanted to read.

Are there a few podcasts your friends have recommended that you haven't had the time to listen to yet? Take advantage of the time you have and put one of those on! Your mind will drift as it listens and you'll immediately stop thinking about food.

Give them a call! Before those negative thoughts get any louder, pick up the phone and call someone you trust. This is a great time to catch up with those you love. Give them a call! Take a bubble bath, or do a face mask.

"Just giving yourself that time to show appreciation for your physical vessel can really do wonders for shifting your mindset off the snacking," says Boyd.

To stop negative internal dialogue and the feelings of anxiety that come along with it, pick a spot on the wall to stare at. And then follow clinical hypnotist Margo Drucker's instructions: "Loosen your jaw and let your tongue relax," she says. "Slowly begin to expand your peripheral vision to include all the space around the spot. Then, expand your vision out to the sides, up to the ceiling and down to the floor. Always keeping your eyes on that spot. Expand it even more, so much so that you can imagine becoming aware of the space behind you. This will immediately put a stop to that internal chatter or anxious feeling. The beautiful thing about it is that it can be done anywhere, anytime. You can even use the forehead of the person you're talking to as your focal point. It's that simple."

Want to get better at painting your nails? Trimming your beard? Maybe even coordinating a few new outfits with the clothes you already have? Always wanted to try a new hairdo, but never had the time to do it? Take some time to "get fancy" for yourself. The project in itself will capture your concentration and help you to stop thinking about food.

Take some time to go through your fridge and get rid of any of the food that's going bad. Dr. Paul recommends once a week is a good time to do so. "When your fridge is too full it's actually easier to let food go to waste."

Is your container cabinet giving you anxiety? Today's the day to fix that. Organize whatever part of your home is making you anxious to relieve any extra tension you've been holding on to.

While it may sound traditional, doing a puzzle is an easy way to pass the time, and can silence your mind so you can stop thinking about food. And if you're stuck at home with others, play some of your favorite board games.

You don't have to just play games in your home by yourself, invite others to join you! Host a virtual game night where each person will have to move your pieces in the same places on their end to create a virtual "board" that you share together.

Been meaning to update that resume of yours? Ignore the snack stash and get it done! You're going to feel massively productive and accomplished when it's finished.

Learn a new skill with the slew of courses available online! Have you thought about upping your social media game? Dr. Paul actually teaches a course for Instagram and TikTok! Or you could even take her nutrition course.

If you have an inbox that is completely overwhelming you, clean it up. It will certainly distract you from food as you zap those emails into the trash.

Journaling is an easy way to switch your focus that Dr. Paul recommends. The best part about journaling? Your journal can be whatever you want it to be. Rant about your anxiety? Document your day? Make a picture book, or even draw something? The sky is the limit.

Always wanted to have a few bushes of fresh herbs in your window sill? Now's the time to try planting them! Here's how to start an indoor herb garden in your home.

"Not only are you burning some of those extra calories you are probably consuming, but by staying active, your mind isn't idle, so less opportunity for a bored mind to convince you you're hungry when you're not," says Susan E. Wilson, RDN, LDN. "Also, regular physical activity helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and I think many people could probably use that right now."

It's okay to want a snack, and if you want to have one in your day, you should! An easy way to avoid eating mindlessly is portioning out your snacks into smaller bags or containers, and then choosing the time of day you'll want that snack the most.

"I noticed that if I put things in bags based on their serving size, so if I have pretzels or cheez-it's that I enjoy, I put them in bags in their individual serving size that way I know I should only have that serving size," says Brianne Munch, a certified personal trainer, online coach, and author of the e-book B-Fit: The Ultimate Macro Tracking Guide.

"Taking time to help lift someone up right now by sending them a nice text or even make it more personal by sending a voice message will put you in a state of love and gratitude," says Boyd. "Plus, the law of reciprocity will work out in the end. Help someone feel good and you, in turn, will feel good."

"Sometimes we are so low on oxygen from feeling stress and holding our breath or shallow-breathing that it can make us tired and therefore trigger what I like to call the 'hungry horrors'," says Boyd. "Taking 20 deep breaths filling up your lungs through your nose and then releasing the air through your mouth will help hyper-oxygenate your body perking you up and shifting your focus from food to the next task at hand."

"By drinking fluids throughout the day, you're keeping your belly just a bit more full, so fewer feelings of hunger," says Wilson. "Also, dehydration can also come across as feelings of hunger, therefore causing you to grab that snack. If you're feeling hungry, but you ate not long ago, try drinking a glass of water."

If you feel like you're not drinking enough water throughout the day, you can easily calculate how many ounces you need by dividing your body weight in half.

"Sleep is often an overlooked aspect of health," says Wilson. "Poor sleep habits can affect so much. It can have a negative impact on food, it can disrupt the hormones which control feelings of hunger and satiety, it can weaken the immune system, can reduce motivation for physical activity, and honestly, I could go on. Lack of sleep can independently be a factor in weight gain. Chronic stress and anxiety can also contribute to weight gain, and lack of sleep can promote this. Try to make sure you are still going to bed and waking up around the same time daily."