Press Pause on Overthinking

I’ve always had a bad habit of overanalyzing everything.

It starts as a simple run-through in my brain about a situation, person, etc., and quickly progresses into me picking apart every little inch of it. Usually, I’ll fall into what I like to call “thought circles.” A thought circle is when you’re analyzing the situation yet again and it always starts with the same notion. Then you proceed to follow the same general path of points that you have the last 21,983,920 times you thought about this, and eventually, end up at the same conclusion.

The first chunk of quarantine, I was staying with my parents which was an absolute blessing. On top of the obvious benefits of living with my parents (i.e. not paying for groceries, homemade meals, free laundry, etc.), it was incredibly valuable having other people around for my mental health. Even just for daily interactions, having someone physically in the same vicinity as me was a consistent source of comfort. Plus, if I needed to externally process, all I had to do was find someone to listen.

Since moving back into my 475-square-foot apartment a couple of months ago, the struggle of keeping my mental health pristine and my mind clear has become more difficult without anyone else around. Especially when I found myself quickly falling into a daily habit of overthinking and overanalyzing literally everything.

About a month ago, I decided to find things that can pull me out of my thought circles and put a stop to the mental overload. So, if you’re like me and tend to overthink or overanalyze, I hope one of these tricks will provide you with some brain decongestion.

I am onto my third journal in 3 months because I use this method so much.

JOURNALING

Journaling is one of my absolute favorite methods for finding some peace of mind. It doesn’t even have to be in an actual journal. Just find a pen and some paper and “data dump” literally everything on your mind that’s been distracting you lately.

It doesn’t have to be perfect because you’re the only person who will be reading it. Personally, I like to write as though I’m venting to a friend. Sometimes I slide some third-person reminders/affirmations in there like, “Hales, you’re justified to feel this way. Don’t doubt yourself. Trust your gut.”

Journaling is an incredibly easy way to find some therapeutic release and can help you process anything you’ve felt “stuck” trying to figure out.

Podcasts are an equally great distraction as they are a tool.

PODCASTS AND ACTIVITY

Podcasts are a great way to get you out of your head and focused on something else.

For those of you who haven’t mastered the art of listening to a podcast, I recommend pairing it with an activity that doesn’t require your undivided attention. Personally, I prefer to listen to podcasts while I’m on a long walk outside, cleaning my apartment, cooking dinner, if I have to drive more than an hour somewhere or if I have my window AC unit running and can’t have my TV on at the same time at the risk of blowing a fuse lol.

Plus, whatever is on your mind - career changes, relationships, friendships, etc. - I guarantee there is a podcast out there that discusses that exact topic in detail.

Listening to a podcast related to whatever you’re overthinking may sound counter-intuitive, but it can actually be extremely beneficial. Especially if you’re looking for some validation, guidance, or non-biased insight that can help put your thought circle to rest.

TALK IT OUT

Though sometimes it’s the last thing you want to do, actually talking to someone you trust about everything that’s going on in your mind can help alleviate the mental strain.

I have a few friends who are my go-to confidantes whenever I’ve finally exhausted myself with overthinking. These are people who I know have zero judgements or biases towards what I’m sharing and often point out things I may have overlooked, validate my thoughts or feelings, or just simply listen while I externally process everything out loud until I come to my own final conclusion.

Simply talking it out with someone who knows you best is a great way to feel more clear-minded and less like a hot mess mentally.

FOCUS ON AN ATTENTION-SUCKER

What is something you enjoy doing that you find yourself literally lost in for hours?

Personally, I can get lost in a really great book, going down a YouTube rabbit hole of watching various celebrities eating really spicy chicken wings on Hot Ones, doing a social distancing-friendly outdoor pop-up workout class with friends and blogging (lol spoiler alert that I started writing this blog as a distraction from my overthinking).

So, whether you enjoy LARPing, needle point, slappin’ the bass, doodling, convincing people to vote, or even just binge-watching a series you’ve seen more than 10 times but it still makes you laugh out loud - go lose yourself in it.

It may not help you process whatever is on your mind, but it will at least give you the much-needed mental (and sometimes emotional) break for a while.

The best doodle of a happy brain to represent “mental calm” that I could muster. :)

FINAL THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS

If you can relate to the never-ending thought circles, I hope a couple of these methods help you press pause on your overthinking.

Now it’s your turn. Please comment:

Any techniques you use to simmer down your overthinking
Your favorite podcast/podcast recs
One thing you are grateful for today :)