Overthinking!
Nothing new right?
How, in such a subtle way, it has become a part of our daily life.
But, have you ever wondered why you think so much?
You analyze and reanalyze situations as if you control your life, surroundings, and people. But whether you think once or a hundred times, the outcome always feels worse.
Whether it’s about people, work, or life in general, the rule is simple and clear:
Think through it once, and then, don’t bother to bring it in front of the canvas of your brain.
That’s it!
You might say it’s easier said than done. That’s why we’re here with practical ways that offer a 99% chance of defeating your overthinking patterns.
Why 99%? Because humans can be wrong without realizing it, and Lo Stilista prefers not to leave you with impractical solutions.
Besides, 99% should be reason enough for you to give these techniques a try.
Therefore, here are 11 ways you can kick overthinking out of your life.
(Make sure to scan the whole paragraph since headings may not speak much for you)
1. Distract yourself:
It’s easier said than done, but you have to keep trying. It will be tougher than it sounds, trust me. But know this, every push makes it easier.
Think of a mother giving birth.
Isn’t that hard?
Yet she pushes, and with each effort, she increases the chances of bringing a new life into the world. Push yourself the same way, distract yourself, and soon distraction will feel as natural as breathing.
Does distraction solve the problem? No. But 90% of life’s situations don’t require deep thinking, yet we overthink them.
Our brain is like a storage device with limited space. Fill it with unnecessary thoughts, and you’ll crowd out what truly matters, like your dreams.
If you want to stop overthinking and achieve something, learn to master distraction.
2. Gratitude:
I’m not asking you to perform the act of showing gratitude to God or the Universe.
Be truly thankful within.
Look at your blessings. The Universe gifts you many things if you pay attention. And it’s not just about material things, but also daily comfort and favorable situations.
Notice how often you’re saved from trouble when things could have gone wrong. How you think of something, and it unexpectedly appears.
Nothing is truly surprising, pleasant yes, but not unexpected. So, pay attention to these moments when you find yourself overthinking.
3. Go out:
Here’s a practical way to distract yourself.
Go out.
Don’t overthink whether it will help or if you feel like going. Trust me, once you step outside, whether to a café, park, or any place with people, you’ll notice your overthinking pauses.
Exploring new places or meeting new people shifts your focus. Your brain enjoys the change, and as you get distracted, solutions naturally start to surface.
4. Focus on learning:
When you’re thinking too much, open your laptop, open YouTube, and check what’s trending on your homepage.
Learn to be curious and be curious to learn!
YouTube suggests good videos, and there’s a sea of learning available. Dive into it, and you’ll hardly notice you’ve escaped your overthinking.
You can also explore other platforms by attending events, reading, or engaging in any form of learning that interests you.
And c’mon, you don’t have to read 50 books, just read one random page that catches your eye right now.
One single page!
5. Close your eyes and pray:
This is the first step though. Some things can’t be done alone. You need help, and what better help than that which comes from God’s own world?
Don’t pray passively, you MUST pray actively!
When you fold your hands, close your eyes, and speak to the higher power out loud, the message becomes clearer to both you and the higher power. That’s what prayer does.
Prayers work like magic.
For every problem, thousands of solutions exist, but as humans, we can only sense one or two. So, give the problem to the almighty and relax, knowing the job is done.
6. Meditate:
Meditation helps calm the mind. There are many ways to meditate, but choose what feels right for you. Meditation is personal, and no single technique works for everyone.
One technique is simple:
- Sit or lie down, close your eyes, and observe your breathing. Follow its entire journey from your nose to your abdomen and back. Pay attention as it moves through your throat, chest, and waist. Remember, it’s about observing the full journey, not just the endpoints, which many confuse you.
- If staying calm feels difficult for you at first, try guided meditations. Just plug in your headphones and begin. There are plenty of ad-free meditation videos on YouTube to help you get started.
You can remove your barriers to meditation once and for all…here.
7. Love yourself:
Seriously, you must do it. Who will love you if you don’t love yourself enough? Why let something consume your mind so much?
Take a break, like Ross in Friends did.
Engage with new experiences that make you feel more loved.
Do things that bring you joy, even if it means spending money on yourself. If you constantly feel lacking and hesitate to invest in yourself, the Universe will reflect that and continue the cycle of lack.
Investing in yourself and your future is the greatest investment you can make.
8. Cry if you want:
Yes, please, cry!
Cry if you need to, but don’t hold it in longer than necessary.
Overthinking can overwhelm you, and that’s when it starts to hurt. So cry, be alone in a room, and let it out. It has to come out. If you don’t, you risk taking it out on others, creating mistakes that affect your karma and trigger more cycles of overthinking. Cry it out, but don’t make others suffer for your pain.
Sometimes, overwhelming feelings come from anxiety. Fear and anticipation of things going wrong can fill you with anxiety, making you want to cry or shout.
If that’s the case, check out our other article Signs of an anxiety attack – recognize and wipe it out’. It can help you understand and manage your anxiety, guiding you toward erasing it from your life.
9. Accept your flaws:
Accept yourself completely as you are.
You may have flaws, but who doesn’t? Words like “flawless” create a false idea of what it means to be human. Humans are meant to try, fail, and evolve. How can that be flawless?
Your flaws shape you. Your ancestors had flaws you corrected, and your children will correct yours.
Look at history, and you’ll see countless things that could have been done better but weren’t. Accept your flaws and stop overthinking whether you can make everything right. Let it go!
10. Start speaking your concerns to yourself aloud or Journal them:
When you speak your problems aloud, you gain clarity.
Articulating them helps you see exactly where the problem lies.
When thoughts stay in your mind, many slip by unnoticed. You may feel like you understand, but often you don’t. Sometimes, you might not even know what’s bothering you, leading you to justify your agitation with random reasons.
Don’t do that to yourself. Speak out loud or write in a journal.
Journaling brings understanding and clarity.
Words hold power, never take them lightly. They can heal or harm. Use them to your advantage.
11. Boundaries with negativity or negative people:
We all have negative people in our lives. Who doesn’t? At times, we may even seem toxic to someone else. But there’s a level of negativity you can manage and a level that can destroy you. Learn to recognize the difference and act accordingly.
Sometimes, distancing yourself from even your closest ones is necessary, not to blame them, but to break free from patterns of overthinking. Once those patterns are broken, you can reconnect with less weight on your mind. Until you heal, set boundaries that protect your peace without blaming or hurting others.
Respect your healing process.
These 11 techniques, if implemented, can bring peace to your life. It did to me, especially when I was drowning in the ocean of overthinking. If it worked on me, it might work on you as well.
11 is a good sign to begin this work on your life and head towards peace and happiness.
Have a peaceful life ahead!
