Overthinking is a close cousin of stress, impostor syndrome, and other phenomena that stop you from becoming the best person you can be. If you’ve been overthinking, I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone.
The first step to solving any problem is to recognize that you have one. Congrats! Now, let’s chat about it and figure out how you can overcome overthinking and get closer to conquering your fears.
What Is Overthinking & How Does it Show Up?
Overthinking is a repetitive, unproductive thought process. It commonly involves constant thought loops that don’t seem to have any resolution.
If you don’t pay attention, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overthinking. It often shows up in the following ways:
- Second-guessing yourself.
- Worrying.
- Obsessing over the future/things that haven’t happened.
- Rehashing the past.
- Replaying scenarios over and over in your head.
- Dwelling on your choices.
Why Is Overthinking Bad?
If you don’t learn how to overcome overthinking you can end up negatively impacting your mental and physical health. One or more of the following could start happening:
- You might get caught up in analysis paralysis and are less likely to take action.
- You might start to have mental roadblocks that stunt your creativity.
- Your energy levels might drop and could lead to burnout.
- Your sleep might suffer, and this could lead to sleep deprivation.
- Your appetite might change and you might start “worry eating.”
How Do I Stop Overthinking?
The remedy for overthinking is positivity, delegation, brain dumps, and reflection. Check out the tips below to get started on your journey to overcoming overthinking!
- Ask Questions for Positive Outcomes: Ask questions that get you closer to a positive answer/result: “Can I change anything about this situation or my expectations about it?”
- Delegate: Break up your tasks by doing one thing at a time or delegating.
- Brain Dumps: Brain dump everything bothering you, then distract yourself for a few hours before looking at it again.
- Reflection: Practice ‘specific gratitude’ every day (i.e. Today I’m grateful that I woke up early this morning and went for a run after not doing that for a month.)
Overcome Overthinking: Additional Resources
- A Lesson in Gratitude, Greatness, and Grounding
- 4 Captivating Ways to Own Your Confidence
- Overthinking: Definition, Causes, & How to Stop
- Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Overthink
- A psychotherapist shares the 3 exercises she uses every day ‘to stop overthinking’
What’s Next: Keep Your Cool With the Resources Below
