​process for getting out of overthinking

Overthinking is when your brain is moving too quickly. You need to slow down rather than let anxiety overwhelm you and become inactive.

When I catch myself overthinking, I picture it like a gear spinning way too fast, making the whole machine shake and eventually break. Trying to fix this by pumping in more energy—like downing caffeine or watching motivational videos—doesn’t help. Instead, what works is to stop everything, figure out what’s wrong, fix it, and then get going again.

If I’m really stuck in my head, I’ll stop what I’m doing, step away from my desk, and go for a 10-minute walk without my phone. During the walk, I try to let go of all the worry about the future and all the fears that tag along with it. I ask myself, “What are three things I can do right now to get back on track?”

Overthinking usually means you’re stressed about the future, and a lot of that worry comes from past struggles. It can make you feel like you can’t reach your future goals with the skills and knowledge you have right now.

But it’s important to remember that you’re going to grow and pick up new skills as you move towards your goals. Even though it’s easy to let your mind race ahead and forget, this growth is exactly what will help you succeed later on.

My process for getting out of the overthinking trap:

Write it down: Isolate your idea and write it down. This forces you to process the idea thoroughly. Read it aloud and edit: A lot of our ideas just bounce around in our minds and never see the light of day. Reading your thoughts out loud helps you hear them more clearly and make necessary changes. Send it to someone via email: It’s tough, but sharing your thoughts with someone you trust is crucial. If you’re not ready to share an idea with a close friend, it’ll be even tougher to share it with strangers later on.