Worrying is like a rocking chair it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere - van wilder
Tell me if this sounds familiar. It's 1 am, you'd love to be sound asleep right now but instead you're wide awake, your brain is running a million miles an hour, imagining a bunch of different scenarios as to what might happen tomorrow.
It is ruminating on some problem that you're facing and just won't let you rest. Overthinking is something that many of us face occasionally and some of us far more often than that.
Overthinking can come from anxiety depression, a big decision, or even a negative mindset.
we'll cover 7 things that you can do to stop overthinking and relax your mind or focus on the things that truly matter.
First, Identify The Thought Pattern
Overthinking can be caused by a number of different things. You could be worried about a big event you have coming up, struggling between
two or three options in a big decision, or ruminating on past events.
These things are all fairly obvious but sometimes the source of your dark repetitive thoughts are not as obvious. in these cases it can be helpful to write down or talk to someone about the things that are on your mind, so that you can find the true source of the issue.
Second, Fix Your Labels
Often we use our thoughts to add labels and to build stories about ourselves that simply aren't true. You might be worrying about your child and maybe think “ i'm such a bad parent.”
This is just a label and it's not likely true, instead frame the thought - i'm thinking that i'm a bad parent.
One of the previous statements is framed as a fact and the other is a thought. You can't change a fact but you can change frame of your thought. By labeling things running through your brain as thoughts and not facts, you can stop the blame game and move on to problem solving.
Number Three, Find a Distraction
One of the big problems with overthinking is that it can be paralyzing. Often the best way to get your mind off of a distraction is by taking action. Call a friend, go exercise, or pick up your favorite hobby and you can focus your mind on something else and help you move on.
Avoid things like watching tv, surfing the web, or social media. All of these things allow your mind to wander and you're likely to just go back to overthinking.
Next, meditate
Meditation has been shown to help organize, manage, and clear your mind in as little as five minutes a day. There are tons of different types of meditations that you can try out to find one that works for you.
Number Five, Focus On The Solutions
A lot of overthinking comes from a major problem that you see coming in your future. Maybe you've got some medical issues or financial problems coming up.
It's easy to dwell on these things and let them become monsters in your mind, instead focus on how to fix these problems rather than all the things that could go wrong.
I like to make a list of the problems that i'm thinking could happen and then with each problem, i write down three to five solutions. This gives me a well thought out solution for each problem that i foresee. Allowing me to feel confident that i can handle whatever comes up.
Number Six Focus on Success
When you find yourself overthinking something, switch your focus from the negative to something in the past that was positive. These things don't have to be huge massive wins, they could be simple things like cleaning your bathroom, making your bed, hitting a workout each day or even saving twenty dollars.
The important thing is that you are focusing on positive things where overthinking is almost always tied to negative things and thought patterns.
And Finally Stay Present
Overthinking is always based in either the past or the future. Overthinkers tend to dwell on mistakes or regrets that are long gone or to worry about events that may not even happen.
Focus on the moment that you are in, if you are with friends focus on them and what they're saying, if you're outside focus on the sights, sounds, and smells around you.
Maybe treat yourself to your favorite meal or snack, pick up your guitar or kick a ball around. It's almost impossible to overthink things if you are enjoying the moment that you are living in.
Remember, worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but being stuck in our mind prison doesn’t feel nice.
Part of the reason that overthinking is such a big issue for many people is that it's easy to do. With the strategies in this article, you can fight back, relax your mind and focus on the things that do matter, the present moment, and the positive events and solutions in your life.
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We can also learn from the past. Remember when you overthought a potential problem and its solutions and in the end it was not a big problem and a simple solution. Remind yourself of those past events and project that on your future thoughts. Chances are, it will be simple again.
And if not, most times the overthinking ahead did not help anyway because it was a problem/solution mix you didn't anticipate but were able to cope with anyway. Alternatively project that into your future.
Hi @hannes-stoffel ,
i agree with you. choose with insight and make it right.
I do agree with meditation, it is very hard not to overthink things, especially in this period. The highlighted steps are top notch.
Hi @balikis95 ,
thankyou for your feedback, sometimes i did too so you're not alone i guess.
i hope everything will always be okay for you.
Hopefully, it would all be. Thank you 🤗🤗.
You're welcome
!LOLZ - I tend to overthink... but only because I care a lot and try to balance needs...
I like this... hopefully this message alone helps quite a few people.
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Hi @samsmith1971 , thankyou so much
Nice write up @hollowins :) made me think of a personal mantra- What I feel is not who I am! It is so important to have techniques to settle your mind, thank you for sharing!
HI @grindan ,
You're always welcome 😀
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Another useful article you have here, @hollowins. There's a lot of good advice for anyone suffering from overthinking. I once heard someone say that making up songs inside your head is also another good way to stop overthinking. It's a creative process and while you're doing it you're focusing your thoughts somewhere else.
I came in via dreemport. 😊