Don’t Let People Live Rent Free in Your Mind — Here’s How to Evict Them (2024)

FAQs

What to do when someone lives in your head rent free? ›

👌 Establish Boundaries: Not everyone deserves access to you. Protect your space. If someone or something isn't serving your well-being or goals, cut them off.

Rent free refers to when you obsessively think about someone or something, usually when it's random or unimportant. The idea is that the thought lives in your head, rent free, with no real reason to be there. “The song from that ad has been living rent free in my head all week.”

A surprisingly effective technique is to simply say the word “Stop” out loud. You can also add, “I'm not letting you live rent free in my mind.”

A squatter is a person who settles in or occupies a piece of property with no legal claim to the property. A squatter lives on a property to which they have no title, right, or lease. A squatter may gain adverse possession of the property through involuntary transfer.

Examples of Things Living Rent Free in Someone's Mind

A mistake you made in the past that keeps replaying in your thoughts, even though it's no longer relevant. A comment someone made about you that you find hard to forget, even if it isn't important.

no thought lives in your head rent-free.” Each thought you have will either be an investment or a cost. It will either move you toward happiness and success or away from it. It will either empower you or disempower you. That's why it is imperative you choose your thoughts and beliefs wisely.

The slang phrase 'living rent free in someone's head' refers to a person spending too much time and energy thinking about an issue, situation, or person.

How do you deal with people who are not paying rent? ›

Often attributed to American advice columnist Eppie Lederer (1918–2002), who used it in her syndicated advice column in 1990.

Essentially, it means that the person or thing is having a significant impact on the individual's thoughts or emotions, often in a negative way. For example, if someone continues to bring up an argument or negative experience from the past, someone else might say, "They're living rent free in your head".

To stop thinking about someone, redirect your focus and engage in activities that bring you joy. Practice mindfulness, avoid their social media, invest time in your hobbies, and connect with supportive friends and family. The best way to stop thinking about someone is to put time into improving yourself.

The best thing to do is to stay busy so you're distracted and thinking about other things. It also helps to not talk to them anymore if you still do. Another thing that helps is to delete or block them from all social media so you don't see them anymore; out of sight, out of mind!

Take it to court

Consider legal action as a last resort. If none of the steps above work, you may have to sue your roommate who won't pay rent in small claims court or ask your property manager or landlord to evict them.