As a believer in too much of a "good thing" being bad, I must address overthinking. Should I think before I act? Absolutely, but overthinking could be as harmful as not thinking at all.
“overthinking” refers to the process of repetitive, unproductive thought. Since thoughts can be focused on many different things, research has generally differentiated between “rumination” about the past and present, and “worry” about the future. Regardless of which word we use, we are talking about constant thought loops that don’t seem to have a resolution - Sperber for Berkeley Well Being Institute
I am guilty of rumination and worry. I am also prone to mindreading, where I find myself thinking what others are thinking and over-reading into things. The truth is I cannot redo the past. I can learn from mistakes, but to do so, I have to think clearly (not with a mind cluttered with thoughts of guilt or wishing I had done something differently). Likewise, I cannot predict the future. I can plan productively, which means not focusing solely on worst-case scenarios.
How do I settle for less overthinking? It starts with awareness. Once, I am aware of my overthinking, I can take steps. What works for me? Nature - getting outside and focusing on what I see helps break my overthinking cycle. Yes, overthinking builds on itself.
For other ideas on how to settle for less overthinking check out 14 Ways to Stop Overthinking or 3 exercises she uses every day ‘to stop overthinking’
Settle for less overthinking to feel better and be more productive!
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