I suppose overthinking is common for many people – there are countless articles written about the topic and how to stop, or at least decrease this tendency. I’m completely guilty of overthinking and doing it quite often. If I go back in time, I recall my overthinking started somewhere in my early to mid-twenties, which is also when I felt real life, adult responsibility thrust upon my shoulders. My overthinking has steadily increased since that time. While there could be some arguments made in support that an active mind is a good thing, it’s a whole different story when your thoughts are on overdrive.

I wish I could say there’s an easy fix for this, but that would be a lie. I say to myself all the time, “live in the moment”, “enjoy the present”, etc. but it seems that in these moments, my mind is also thinking about at least five other topics such as “I need to buy….. I need to schedule…. I need to pay….” I want to tell my brain just to stop, and focus on the present moment, nothing else. I truly believe this is a skill, and that someone who does it well, is really living a fulfilling life.

The irony about overthinking is that it stops us from making progress, rather than moving us forward. Our own thoughts and worries can become so overwhelming, that we’re paralyzed and unable to take any action. I know that when life gets stressful, overthinking is my immediate response. And while this is not always evident from the outside, there’s a lot going on inside my head.

Thinking in and of itself is not a bad thing. Having thoughts and ideas is such a huge part of being human. We need thoughts to live, to thrive, to communicate, etc. However, when these thoughts consume us, especially when they are negative or worrisome, it’s like listening to a broken record repeatedly in our heads. Nothing positive is gained from this, and you’ve just spent a great deal of time and effort resulting in zero productivity.

While I admit I still have quite a bit of work to do, I’m hopeful that having a greater self-awareness of this unfavorable tendency of mine will be a good starting point in helping me conquer this overthinking. I find that writing helps me focus and calms my thinking quite a bit. Perhaps when my brain starts swirling with the many to-do items (or worries), I can write them down quickly and consider it done, rather than continuing to mull it over again and again. Every person is different, and what works for one may not work for someone else, but the desired result is the same – to help you focus on the present, and ultimately maintain a sense of calm and peace of mind.