The Overthinker’s Brain

Hey there, I already know why you are here? Must be thinking does this article about to how to reduce overthinking , relates to you. Well, if you’ve actually given this much thought, welcome to the club, we share the same mindset. And just out of curiosity, if this is exactly how your day goes as well, do let me know in the comment section below.

Well, without much thinking, let’s begin.

What a day in the life of an overthinker looks like

“When overthinking, you create a million scenarios in your mind, starting from a simple thought, and in this tornado, it’s easy to get plagued with negative emotions. As most overthinkers, you’re worried about the future and forget to live the present.” — Source

07:55 My alarm goes off. But I’m already awake. And I promise I wasn’t scrolling through my phone 👀

08:15 Think, in the shower: “What if I leave and regret it? What if I stay and regret it?”

08:17 Also: “How can Apple make “dynamic island” a thing to flaunt off? Ugh.”

08:55 Catch a quick breakfast. Why it’s always has to be idlis?

10:00 Start with Work. I mean, turn on my laptop and take that call, daily.

11:30 A little more work.

12:20 Have a mini-existential breakdown and ask me “Am I even doing enough, or maybe even too much?”

12:30 Go back to work. 3 back-to-back calls 2 within team and 1 with EM.

16:30 Think: “What if I don’t have what it takes, whatever “it” is anyway? What if my plans don’t work out?”

17:05 Head out to gym, enjoying the lone drive of 15 mins where I can just…be.

18:30 Think: “I wonder what life would have been like if I’d gone to another school, town or country.” ( walking out of the gym)

20:00 Make myself a warm cup of tea. I’m slightly addicted at this point.

20:35 Agonise over creating posts for my insta page : @thewordmeanings

21:05 Binge-watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S episodes on Netflix to distract myself.

21:12 Delete the post I just drafted.

21:13 More F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

23:15 Think: “Maybe that post wasn’t so bad.”

23:55 Write late night journal entry:

Do you ever think…what if I’m not who I think I am? What if I’m not actually smart enough or kind enough or hardworking enough or deserving enough?

They say to have dreams bigger than you, but what happens when they become a hindrance rather than an inspiration?

00:05 Finally fall asleep. 😴

Well, if it’s all relatable to you, I must say, overthinking is disrupting your mental peace for sure. I have figured out a few quick and easy solutions to help you reduce this overthiking.

Let your thoughts be.

The brain is constantly churning out all kinds of thoughts. But thinking is a two-way street, while the brain may offer numerous or near-constant ‘thought suggestions,’ it’s ultimately up to us to decide if we accept them.

You don’t have to take every alarming thought that pops into your head as truth.

Talk to Your Brain

“When the brain is ‘at rest,’ the areas that light up are the problem solving areas and areas associated with self-referential thinking. So, when left to its own devices, the brain will overthink,” That means you have to train your brain to do otherwise — particularly if you’re overthinking at certain times, like before bed or during work.Just talk to you brain and let it know, you’ll not think about it right now, may be sometime later, though.

Meditate

Well, this is something wich I’ll actually suggest to every living individual on this planet. Initially it takes up lot of motivation and will power to practice meditation, but trust me, once you’ll start realising how powerful tool it is, you’ll certainly make sure to add it in your daily activity.

Not only it adds focus to your mind, it also helps you adding depth in your thinking. Of course with some added benifits like reduced Anxiety, low self esteem and even fighting any signs of depression, whatsoever.Check our new blog on mindfulness and meditation: here

Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Body

You can also practice mindfulness in a more traditional sense, with grounding body scans. Placing any thoughts you’re having on the back burner and focusing on your body. “Close your eyes and try to feel your heartbeat from the inside, clasp your hands and squeeze them tight or put both feet on the floor and try to feel each point of contact,” Other ways to connect with your body include moving to music or hitting the gym.

Dump it all.

Journaling is a helpful way to get your thoughts out of your head so they’re not overwhelming you as much. Or, you could always jot down a to-do list. Making a list or plan is more action-oriented, and that can calm our ruminating brain a bit, too.You can do it anywhere, from a piece of paper to your notes app on your phone.

Immerse Yourself in Nature

No matter where you’re located, fresh air can do your mind plenty of good. If you’re able to get out in nature, even better. Studies show taking a 90-minute walk in a nature-filled environment can decrease one’s inclination toward rumination. This response mostly has to do with the lack of noise and distractions in natural settings, as well as the ability for some people to quell their negative thoughts and appreciate something larger than themselves in their surroundings.

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