{"id":5520,"date":"2023-01-24T14:40:45","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T14:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/?p=5520"},"modified":"2023-07-24T22:45:36","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T21:45:36","slug":"how-to-stop-overthinking-in-your-business-and-start-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/how-to-stop-overthinking-in-your-business-and-start-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stop overthinking in your business and start doing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Overthinking. It\u2019s the thing that keeps you distracted during the day or up at night. It\u2019s the should dos, the what ifs, the could have been. It\u2019s hard and complicated when you\u2019re an overthinker. The first thing is, don\u2019t give yourself a hard time if you’re prone to overthinking or worrying. Here we share some of the reasons for overthinking, and ways to reframe it and move forward in achieving your goals.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Firstly, what\u2019s behind overthinking?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Overthinking \u2014 like worry and procrastination \u2014 is a way of trying to make ourselves feel safe. It\u2019s often triggered by a negative experience or a number of events, and it’s our brain’s way of trying to find a solution, perhaps when there isn\u2019t one. It involves thinking about every possible outcome and coming up with a solution or if it involves a past event, an alternative outcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s the problem with overthinking?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thinking about a problem from all angles is great if you\u2019re doing project management<\/a> or risk assessments. The problem with overthinking is that it’s taken to the extreme. Instead of being able to put your ideas into action, you can end up feeling overwhelmed and unable to make decisions. Overthinking also gives us a false impression of ourselves and what we can control. Even though it negatively frames us as the reason why something could or did go wrong, it also gives us god-like omnipotent powers, letting us falsely believe we can control everything and have ultimate responsibility for all possible outcomes. There are also long-term effects, with overthinkers more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What happens when you overthink?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your mind works a little like a record. When a record gets scratched, it can get stuck in the groove and repeat. When we go over and over an idea without taking any action we can start to believe that this process is beneficial or productive \u2014 even though it\u2019s not \u2014 and, after a while, it becomes a habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What can you do?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, if you\u2019re an overthinker<\/a>, be gentle with yourself. There\u2019s a reason your brain is thinking this way, and it\u2019s trying to make you feel safe by telling you you\u2019re in control. Be gentle while you work on forming new habits, and remember it takes time. You\u2019ve become used to a way of thinking \u2014 and while it\u2019s not helping you at this moment \u2014 it will all be ok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let go of what you can\u2019t control<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When I used to organise events, for anything outside I\u2019d have a plan for bad weather but I would never beat myself up if it started to rain. Why? Because I have absolutely no control over the weather. I had control over so many aspects but this was not one of them. A simple tool to try is to ask yourself honestly whether you have any control over the situation. If it\u2019s a no, acknowledge the thought \u2014 remembering it\u2019s ok to think about these things \u2014 but move on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Remind yourself you\u2019re safe<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Keep telling yourself you\u2019re safe. Your overthinking is a way of trying to keep you safe by telling you you\u2019re in control. You have to gently reassure yourself that you\u2019re safe while you let go of the thought that you control everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Say kind words to yourself<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The words you say to yourself are more powerful than any words anyone else can say to you. These words are also known as positive affirmations: statements you say to yourself to help change your mindset. The key is to repeat them often \u2014 and if you can \u2014 in the mirror, looking yourself in the eye and smiling while you say them. It\u2019s also ok if you don\u2019t believe them at first. Just keep saying them, and keep being kind to yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reframe your thoughts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you catch yourself thinking that there\u2019s something else you can do or could have changed \u2014 reframe it. Turn it around and question it. Is keeping on thinking about it going to change what you need to do, or is there really anything you could have done differently? Maybe something in your past didn\u2019t go right \u2014 which can be the trigger for overthinking \u2014 but instead of berating yourself, celebrate your failure<\/a> and congratulate yourself for learning and growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Focus on your sleep<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Getting enough rest and sleep is both the solution as well as tricky for the overthinker as bedtime can be the moment your thinking can go into overdrive. Try to develop a sleep routine that doesn\u2019t involve active thinking \u2014 no nighttime to-do lists \u2014 but is focused on preparing yourself for sleep. A warm shower, a hot water bottle, meditating, journaling, reading, even watching tv: anything that makes you happy and indicates to your body that it\u2019s time to rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reduce negative stimulus<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Remove the things you don\u2019t like, replacing them with what you do. Overthinking can become triggered by feeling overwhelmed or stimulus so putting on some headphones, silencing notifications, and focusing on doing something that makes you feel good can help get you into your happy place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do something creative<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to be a creative person to do something creative. Making something \u2014 it doesn\u2019t matter what it is \u2014 is really good for an overthinker\u2019s brain. Do a five-minute collage, cook, draw or write. It doesn\u2019t matter what it is and whether it\u2019s good, just stretch those creative muscles to give your brain a little push in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Get physical<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Physical exercise releases serotonin and dopamine\u2014 which all make you feel good. Get outside, get moving and you\u2019ll find your thinking shifting to other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keep your to-do lists short<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Most of us have too many actions on our to-do lists. Instead of having 100 things, focus on three a day. Use notes or your calendar to help you focus on what you need to get done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do it anyway<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Until you develop a new habit, your overthinking impulse will be strong. Don\u2019t get upset when you overthink, but nudge yourself to do it anyway. Ask yourself what\u2019s the worst that can happen \u2014 nothing \u2014 and even if you\u2019re anxious, push yourself to put it out there and move on to the next thing<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

10 ways to help you stop overthinking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[181,173,186],"tags":[109,19],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5520"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5520"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5908,"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5520\/revisions\/5908"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/commonexception.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}