We’ve said it before (most recently here), and now we’re saying it again: The dreaded overthink keeps rearing its ugly head in all our lives. Here’s another helpful look at the problem and, more importantly, how to solve it.
How to Stop Yourself from Overthinking Everything
by Thorin Klosowski
We all overthink aspects of our lives. Whether it’s decisions, regrets, self-worth, or general worries about the future, we’re so often stuck inside our own heads that it feels like there’s no way out. Here’s how to quit overthinking everything and move on.
Why We Overthink
When we talk about overthinking, we’re talking about a couple of different things. On one hand, overthinking is when you get caught in those loops where you’re just thinking about one single event over and over. You might start over analyzing something that happened, regretting an action you took, or worrying about the future of something. On the other hand, you can overthink decisions in a similar way. Here, you’ll often analyze them into the ground to the point where you can’t make a decision anymore.
Either way, overthinking is basically when you can’t think about anything else, and it’s affecting your life in a negative way. The end goal here is the same: get out of that thinking loop and move on.
Take Action Now
If you’re overthinking an idea you can actually do something about, the best thing you can do is take action now. This doesn’t mean you have to suddenly run off to make something, it just means you start taking a step forward.
For example, let’s say you’re considering moving to a new city. You can’t move immediately, but if you sit and think about the process, you’re going to go around in circles in your head. So, it’s important to do something. In this case, you can start planning. Make a list of where you want to go. Start researching housing prices, jobs, and whatever else. Create a financial plan and goals. Write out a timeline. It doesn’t matter what you do, you just need to make a move toward the idea you’re overthinking. Making those plans and comparisons may even help you make your decision….