Don’t know how to stop overthinking everything?
Well, you are not alone. Contemporary hurly-burly life often leaves us under overwhelming mental pressure. The constant struggle to manage the daily tasks often leads to chronic thinking.
There is no denying the fact that overthinking jeopardizes our life. Too much thinking creates confusion, poses problems in decision-making, and so on…
As a result, you think much and do too little, or in the worst scenario, nothing.
Fortunately, there are several tricks to resolve this issue. It takes some simple efforts and changes in perception in life.
Delve in to explore the best ways to stop overthinking everything. Definitely helped me.
8 Sure-shot Strategies to Stop Overthinking
#1. Take a Short Break to Find Out What is Bothering You
When you overthink, it is troublesome to focus on daily chores. Whether in personal or professional life, overthinking and work can’t go hand in hand.
If everything seems unmanageable, it’s time to stop, at least for a while. Awareness of the overthinking habit is the first step in the process. Dedicating time to resolve the matter makes sense.
You have to identify the problem(s) bothering your mind. If things are jumbled up in your mind, write down your hiccups, preferably in a digital notebook. It is easy to do the editing part on a digital planner or notepad. Prioritize the things you need to address urgently.
#2. Leverage Efforts on Problem Solving
Thinking on and on about a matter takes you nowhere. It damages your potential and productivity.
For each problem, evaluate the seriousness of the situation-
- Do you need to solve it too urgently?
- How are you responding to the matter?
- Can you get any sort of help?
The next step involves problem-solving. Think about one problem at a time. Start with the most urgent problem on the list.
Find out the possible solutions to resolve the issue. There is no harm in eyeing multiple options. The Eisenhower Matrix can help you in picking out priorities. It is an organizational tool that serves as the base for prioritizing tasks accurately depending on urgency and significance. You can find this tool in all of our mood planners. The picture below is a page from the 2022 full focus planner.
#3. Don’t Aim for Perfectionism
Thinking of perfectionism interferes with decision-making. It is a time waster aspect blocking the path to a possible solution.
A minor thought about perfectionism can prompt you to hunt for the correct choice. There are many options and possibilities to handle a situation.
Making everything perfect is strenuous. It is not necessary that have to please everyone around. Narrow down the choices by prioritizing what is crucial in your life.
#4. Think About the Broader Aspects
When there are so many choices, it is quite possible to stay indecisive and confused. Everyone wants to make the best choices in life and career.
The 10-10-10 rule can help you make better decisions. Let’s proceed to see how this rule works in decision-making.
This rule involves a long-term perception of a matter rather than focusing on the present-day emotional state of mind.
Suppose you have a current situation keeping you indecisive from moving ahead.
At this point, think about how you will feel about this decision in the next-
- ten minutes
- ten months
- ten years
The answer to this question helps you look at the bigger picture of the aspect in the future. Balancing the outcome of your decision in the long term is crucial. This perspective is beneficial for you to make better choices in life.
#5. Fear is Only a State of Mind
If you are still stuck on how to stop overthinking everything, it is time to realize that thinking too much mostly pops up due to fear.
The fear of failing, getting things long, losing a job…
The list is an endless one. All of these are in your thoughts.
A failure in the past can intensify the dilemma. If you have failed in the past, it does not mean you will not succeed in the future.
At least the worst scenario you are thinking about has not happened yet. Speculating a job loss in the next few months can affect your performance at work today.
#6. Be Determined and Confident
Once you are out of the fear, it is time to gear up to prepare yourself. Before you step further, stay with your decision and proceed with confidence. This takes you ahead towards a better tomorrow.
#7. Get Organized and Start Afresh
Whether at work or in life, it is vital to stay organized. Now that you are heading towards decision-making, it is worth planning in line with your choices. Writing your plan ensures you don’t miss out on the minute details.
#8. Distractions are Good at Times
If something takes a toll on your mind, some form of distraction can be relaxing and refreshing. There are several ways to keep the mind away from overthinking:
- Listen to music
- Meet a friend
- Watch a movie
- Listen to podcasts
Thoughts worrying you often pass through when you are busy with other engagements.
#Bonus Tip- Get Started with the Self-Improvement Tools
There are plenty of online tools for self-improvement. Goal-setting is a worthy initiative to keep you away from overthinking insignificant things.
You can do this with a few things- a digital planner and a smart pen. Working with a traditional notebook planner can be messy, especially if you are a chronic thinker. Editing your plans is a breeze on a tablet device rather than striking off notes on a paper planner.
A goal planner acts as a distraction to keep you away from overthinking. This way, you will spend more time on things that matter.
The Bottom Line,
Overthinking can make life miserable. It can happen to anyone anytime on trivial issues. Getting carried away in thoughts can interfere with your work and lifestyle balance.
