Stop overthinking

Overthinking is exhausting. When you overthink, thoughts run circles around your head and you find yourself stuck in reverse unable to move forward. More so, you start coming up with bizarre ideas that totally contradict each other. Overthinking is simply the act of “thinking about something too much or for too long.” I know the feeling, and it’s energy-draining. In fact, studies have shown that overthinking elevates your stress levels, reduces your creativity, clouds your judgment and strips you of your power to make decisions. Fortunately, there are a few ways to handle overthinking. These don’t happen overnight — some will take time to develop and some can be implemented immediately. But all of them require conscious work from your side.

I always used to say out loud: “I can never be on time. I’m not a morning person. I can’t commit to anything.” Well , guess what? I was never on time to meetings, I was always grumpy in the mornings and I couldn’t commit to anything — a job, a relationship or a side project. What you repeatedly say to yourself — and how you repeatedly describe yourself — is what you come to believe and be. Everything we do and experience stems from our identity and underlying set of beliefs. The question is then, does the story you tell yourself empower you or hold you back?

Thoughts like “I’m an over-thinker” or “I always worry because I have so much on my mind” or “I’m not really good with making decisions and I overthink everything” do you more harm than good. If this is the story you tell yourself, you need to stop immediately because it’s stripping away your power. Instead, do this: Identify those limiting beliefs and make it a conscious effort to stop yourself whenever you catch yourself voicing them. Immediately replace those negative narratives with positive, empowering thoughts: “I am in charge of my emotions”, “I think clearly” and, “I’m a decision-maker.” This is how you change your self-perception and begin to win back your power. Overthinkers often ruminate about the past. When they so do, they’re exerting energy on the “what if” and “I wish” and “I should have”… But that energy is removing them from the present moment. The past cannot be changed — but you can change the lessons, meanings and perspectives you extract from it. In the heat of overthinking, stop and say: “No. I’m not going to have these thoughts right now. I’m not going to give in.” Bring your attention to where you are here and now. Breathe. Focus. Where are you? What do you feel? What’s on your mind? What’s stressing you out?  Open your journal and write down your thoughts.

Author Amy Morin says: “When you find yourself worrying, take a minute to examine the things you have control over.” First, acknowledge what’s on your mind. Second, take a step back and broaden your perspective. Ask yourself: “What can I control?”

Very often, it’s the irrational fears that arise in our minds that lead to overthinking. We fear what others might think, we fear to make a mistake, we fear not being good enough to succeed. And living in that fear will tangle us in a well of indecision.

A study that was published in Psychological Science revealed that the brain becomes both calmer and sharper after a person spends time in a quiet setting close to nature. Other research also concludes that walking in green spaces puts the brain in a meditative state.

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