How to Stop Overthinking? 5 Steps to Avoid

Why are they still silent? I kept refreshing my email inbox while slouching over my laptop while sitting on my bed. I was anxiously awaiting a response from a potential employer regarding an internship position, and every time I checked my inbox, my anxiety grew much worse.

Overthinking is a common tendency among people, and it occasionally gets out of control to the point that it harms people’s health. “Many people have concluded that overthinking is part of their mentality; they’ve not learned that solutions are available to fight this anxiety-inducing tendency,” says clinical psychologist David A. Clark.

There is hope if you are one of those people who believes that overthinking is a natural part of life. Here are five suggestions to help you stop overthinking in life:

1. Be aware of when you begin to overthink

Do you notice that as you obsess over minor issues, fear and worry start to seep in? Most likely, you are overthinking. If you can spot those tendencies early on, you’ll have a greater chance of putting a stop to them before they become more of a problem. Sometimes it’s sufficient to simply pause and declare, “I’m overthinking.”

2. Realize that most things are unimportant

When you stop to consider the countless small decisions, chores, and interactions that take place every day, this may at first seem mocking. It won’t matter whether the carrots in your salad are sliced or julienned at the church luncheon. The fact that you stumbled over your “hello” or “goodbye” won’t make your buddy or neighbor think less of you. A late assignment won’t spell the end of your academic career if you’re still in school. Your mind is freed up to concentrate on the things that really matter when you stop wasting time on the little things.

3. Keep in mind that overanalyzing problems doesn’t solve them

Because it requires so much time and effort, overthinking frequently feels productive, which is why it can be difficult to eliminate the practice. It’s critical to understand that doing so costs time, may result in mental anguish, and ultimately leads to inaction. You risk missing out on fantastic possibilities if you overthink your choices.

4. Don’t stress about using the right words.

I can’t even begin to count how many emails I’ve put off sending or responding to because I was overthinking them. Will this language be interpreted as being unprofessional? Perhaps saying this in person would be preferable. What if I ask for a delay on that project and they say no? I sent that email a while ago, but if I follow up right away, they’ll think I’m being aggressive.

The purpose of emails and messages is to facilitate faster, more convenient, and easier communication. Just send it, as long as your writing is clear and makes your point. And if you’re anticipating a crucial email, try not to worry about it as much as I did with my internship. It turned out that I had been accepted and that continuously refreshing my inbox had not sped up the process. It only sapped my strength and made me feel more stressed.

5. Recognize that not all of your thoughts are true.

Humans have the propensity to magnify the negative, especially overthinkers. Thoughts constantly cross our minds, but that doesn’t mean they are true. Catastrophizing (expecting horrible things to happen and exaggerating small things) and polarized thinking (black-and-white, all-or-nothing thinking) are two examples of cognitive distortions that can contribute to overthinking. You may considerably enhance your mental health and combat intrusive thoughts by becoming aware of your cognitive distortions.