It can be wonderful to have brothers and sisters, especially in childhood, because you always have the opportunity to play with someone close to you. However, there may be times during your life when, for one reason or another, you feel compelled to ignore your siblings. Sometimes it is very difficult, especially if you still live in the same house. Thankfully, you have a number of solutions available that will help you effectively ignore them.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Evaluating the Best Way to Act
Step 1. Decide why you intend to ignore your brother
There are several reasons why you may choose to overlook its presence.
- If you are simply busy and need focus, try explaining it to him and make it clear that your disinterest in him is not because you are angry with him.
- If he's bothering you, ask him to stop.
- If he has made a serious mistake towards you, try to resolve the conflict as soon as possible. If he errs frequently or his mistake has caused a lot of damage, perhaps the best solution is to avoid it for several days.
Step 2. Decide to what extent to ignore it
The reason that leads you to detach yourself towards him will establish how far you can keep the point. If he has behaved badly, you may decide not to speak to him again to get your message. If you are just trying to focus on something, give him attention when he comes into the room or asks you for something; just avoid having a long conversation.
Step 3. Think of an alternative course of action to take
In order to establish healthy relationships, including family ones, it is important to communicate openly. If you ignore a sibling, you take both of you away from communicating. Then, consider other ways of solving the problem, first trying to talk to him. If necessary, also involve your parents. If you need advice on how to act, ask a friend, psychologist, psychotherapist, or someone you trust for help.
- If you're trying to concentrate, try saying, for example, "I absolutely have to study for this exam. Could you be a little quieter or go to another room?" Or, "I'm sorry if I've been ignoring you lately, but there is a big project in sight and I have to find my concentration ".
- If he is bothering you, you might ask him, "I am bothered by the constant noise of that pen. Could you stop?"
- If it hurt you, try opening yourself up like this: "I don't know if you realize it, but your behavior hurt me a lot. I would like to know if you understood it, hoping it won't happen again in the future."
Part 2 of 3: Ignore a Brother Who Lives With You
Step 1. Get out of the house more often
If you are looking to study or work, take your laptop or books with you to a public place. Many people go to the library, cafe, or park when they feel the need to focus. If you have a car, simply parking in a parking lot or garage can give you the escape you need. If you're avoiding your sibling for other reasons, try going for a walk or hanging out with friends more often. Go out of your way to keep yourself busy outside the house.
Step 2. Shut yourself in your room
If you have your own room, the best way to ensure some privacy is to close the door, as long as you are allowed to. This way you will reduce unwanted intrusions into your spaces. This is especially important if your sibling has a bad habit of not knocking or is too young to realize it is a polite gesture.
Step 3. Put on a pair of headphones or earplugs
It is the best choice if you share a room or have to go on a long drive with your brother. If you use headphones, be careful not to turn the volume up too high, otherwise you risk damaging your hearing. Even keeping the volume low, use this system to prevent surrounding noises from bothering you.
Step 4. Reduce stress by breathing deeply
Deep breathing exercises are excellent for relaxing and can be of great help when your sibling is bothering you or making you angry. Therefore, slowly inhale through the nose, counting in mind to five, and then slowly exhale through the nose. Repeat this process until you have calmed down enough that you are no longer affected by your sibling's irritating behavior.
Part 3 of 3: Ignoring a Brother Who Doesn't Live With You
Step 1. Don't follow him on social networks
If you are trying to focus, stay away from any kind of social media. If you want to temporarily ignore your brother, most websites, including Facebook, allow you not to view other users 'publications on the home page, without forcing yourself to delete them from your friends' list. By removing a virtual friendship you risk causing drama that could affect real-life relationships. So, don't delete anyone as this kind of link could come in handy if a problem persists over time.
Step 2. Avoid answering the phone
If, when your cell phone rings, you see your brother's phone number on the screen, click the answering machine. Avoid pressing the "silence" button, because in many cases the caller might notice it. If your sibling leaves you a voicemail message, make sure you listen to it as soon as possible - it could be an emergency!
Step 3. Don't delay when you send him a message
Unless your brother has seriously offended you, don't completely ignore his messages. However, don't feel obligated to answer them immediately, and when you do, be concise and get to the point.
Advice
- Try asking your brother or sister why he is bothering you. If he has no intention of bothering you, try to understand his point of view. Discuss together so that you can find an alternative that is less bothering for you.
- Keep calm, take a deep breath, or think of something that calms you down.
- Try not to argue with your brother, because you will not solve the situation.
- If he imitates you, ignore him. When someone behaves this way, they are motivated by strong admiration. If you remain silent and keep doing your work, it will have nothing more to imitate and eventually it will stop.
- If he messes up your things, don't mess with hers. You won't get any satisfaction out of it and just risk getting yourself into trouble.
