Is your mind rambling on like a loud diesel engine with no end in sight? Want some tips on how to stop overthinking? Overthinking is something all of us are familiar with. Unfortunately, you can’t stop overthinking by just switching off a switch. Let’s try to see if we can get that overthinking mind of yours to calm down so you can get some mental serenity.
You can overthink when you’re trying to make a decision. When you’re trying to forecast what you want to do in the future, you can overthink things. Or you might be concerned with how other people think of you, and that can lead to overthinking. Whatever the case, there’re a many reasons where you mind just go into overdrive and will not stop.
There is one thing clear about overthinking things, and that is the costs and efforts far outweigh any benefits you have from overthinking and over-analyzing things.
Overthinking Means You Have a Strong Attachment
When you overthink something, it means you have a strong emotional attachment about that particular thinkg or situation. It could be fear, anxiety, doubt, worry or any other type of attachments. You can even call it an addiction. In other words, it’s not really normal to be so concerned about this think or situation. It’s important to realize this and then move from there.
You Can Never Make the Perfect Decision
Remember, there are risks and rewards to every decision. There are no guarantees that any decision you make will lead to a favorable outcome. So just accept that there are risks, and that you are not perfect. Do your due diligence and analyze your situation, and then just assertively make your decision and accept that there are no guarantees in life. Finally, trust your decisions, and ultimately trust yourself.
Activate Your Body and Calm Your Mind
Take a brisk walk or do some exercises so you can activate your body and relieve any pent up anxiety. You can also try to do meditation. At first, you’ll find your mind will struggle to even quiet down, but after some practice, you’ll get your mind to gradually slow down.
Due Your Diligence and Then Firmly Take Action
You can get a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Label the one side as PROS (reasons for doing something) and the other side as CONS (reasons for not choosing to do something). You can also have one side as BENEFITS and the other side as COSTS. You get the idea.
Then do some basic research and fill out each side with what you find out. The key then is to STOP after a certain period, then analyze your information and take firm action.
Get Feedback From Those Around You
Simply tell people around you what your are thinking about doing. Tell them the information you have analyzed and just ask them, “Am I overthinking this?”
No Special Secrets for How to Stop Overthinking
Finally, realize, like in life, there are no magic pill or potion you can take to learn how to stop overthinking. What you can do is realize that you have a strong attachment for something, accept that you can never make the perfect decision, and then gradually LET GO (physical exercises and meditation can definitely help). Once you reach this point, assertively make your decision and then just accept what will happen.
Nothing challenging is easy to solve in life. It’s the process of doing something that make us grow in life.
