Theme: Avoidance

Warm-up statements – answer yes or no

Someone I’m close to told me that I spend too much time at work or on a hobby.
I’ve spoken to a colleague who seemed down or behaved in a destructive way.
I tend to put off dealing with things that I find difficult at home or at work instead of dealing with them straight away.
I tend to eat, work, party, gamble or work out more than usual when I’m worried about something.

What are the consequences of avoiding your problems instead of dealing with them? Possible follow-up question: How does that affect people who are close to you?
It’s important to take occasional breaks from everyday struggles to save energy. However, methods for recovering (such as working out, playing video games, or watching TV) can easily turn into a means of avoidance. How do you make sure that you’re taking healthy breaks without falling into a pattern of avoidance?