Overthinking is a silent killer that affects a lot of individuals today. According to Forbes, research suggests that 73% of 25-35-year-olds chronically overthink, and 52% of people aged 45 to 55 overthink. Overthinking can occur due to several factors such as cognitive biases, lack of control, perfectionism, information overload, etc. It can even be due to low self-esteem i.e. not believing in one’s self to be able to do anything well. If you are an overthinker, you may find yourself fatigued, having consistent headaches, inability to concentrate or having gastric problems. Let’s dive into the ways of dealing with overthinking.
- Practising Mindfulness and Meditation: Whenever you catch yourself stuck in the loop of negative thoughts or over-analysing the situation remember to take a deep breath first and cut yourself from the situation through meditation. If you make it part of your daily routine, you are less likely to engage in overthinking. Mindfulness in fact helps you stay in the present moment. Meditating daily can help you disconnect from your thoughts and let go of those thoughts.
- Set a ‘Worry Time’: it is integral at that time to postpone those thoughts. Ensure that you do not engage in that loop at night as it can affect your sleep schedule. You can schedule time to think as much as you want to during a specific time of the day. Whenever you end up thinking during the unscheduled time, remind yourself to think at the scheduled time.
- Pay attention to the solution rather than the issue: Frequently, we find ourselves thinking about the issue rather than the solution. “Am I in control of this situation?” How do I get out of this situation?
- Practice Gratitude in That Moment: When you think about the things that you’re grateful for that took place in the recent past, you naturally begin to feel positive and you’ll realize that your negative thoughts have vanished.
- Engage in Exercise: Yoga combined with a jog, walk, or run might help you feel happier by releasing endorphins. This can assist you in clearing your mind. You will feel renewed. You will observe a sudden shift in your energy levels.
To conclude, choose your thoughts wisely and conserve your energy in this manner. As quoted by Mara Santilli, “You don’t have to take every alarming thought that pops into your head as truth.” Perhaps, this quote might help take control of your thoughts rather than the thoughts taking over you.