How To Stop Overthinking - 10 Simple Tips That Actually Work

Overthinking is a problem that is plaguing the society, more now than it ever did. It is therefore important to learn how to stop over-thinking and here is how.

By Auntrone89
How To Stop Overthinking - 10 Simple Tips That Actually Work

Stop overthinking and just relax!

Stop overthinking and just relax! Insert here @onegroundedangel's post Insert here Every year, mental related ailments are responsible for killing more people than natural calamities. And the worst thing about mental ailments is that they can go unnoticed for months and in some cases, even years. Some people have even gone as far as accepting their self-inflicted psychological problems as being part of them which only makes the situation much worse. Another vital aspect that is never really taken with a pinch of salt about mental ailments is their root course. If you take a close look at stress, depression and all the other mental complications, they always seem to have one common denominator as far as their origin is concerned – overthinking. Over thinking may seem rather too trivial but it has the ability to turn anyone’s entire world upside down. And that’s why we need to stop over thinking and learn how to relax even when under pressure. Thoughts such as worrying about what tomorrow will bring, where you’ll acquire food from or if your ex is ever coming back need to be abolished from your mind for good! You also need to acknowledge the fact that over-thinking is a big problem that can only be dealt with through gradual conditioning. Since over thinking is a habit that’s adopted gradually, it means that gradualism is the only way you can put a stop to it. You will also be required to be patient while not being way too hard on yourself. And when you backslide from progress, don’t stop or feel guilty. Just pick yourself up and get back on track and keep moving forward. Remind yourself that man is to error, learn your lessons and get back to your feet like the solder you are meant to be! Insert here 1. Stop over thinking and practice gratitude Insert here @gosiatreppner's post Insert here Someone very wise once said that being alive is the biggest win you’ll ever have. Therefore, it really doesn’t matter what you did, did wrong or didn’t do. As long as you are alive, then you still have a chance in life. So, how does gratitude work and why is it important in the fight to put a stop to overthinking? Well, it’s pretty simple. For starters, learn how to appreciate the little triumphs in your life. For instance, if your business is struggling, stop everything you are doing and appreciate the fact that you still have a business rather than overthinking. If you have a big head and some disgruntled elements think you are unattractive, appreciate the fact that your head is intact and working perfectly well. If you ever find yourself worrying about what tomorrow will bring, stop over thinking and congratulate yourself for making it today as well as the day before. At first, you might not realize how far the practice of gratitude can take you. But with time, you’ll notice the aura of positive vibes surrounding you as you subliminally used gratitude to put a stop to negative thinking. In the long run, you won’t even realize when or how you stopped overthinking. A little gratitude can not only help you put a stop to over thinking but make you happy and content with your life. Insert here 2. Doing your best and letting God do the rest Insert here @ziomanu_el_loco's post Insert here Whether you broke up with your ex or cooked some “subpar” food according to those who had the “misfortune” of eating it, never let it get into your head. As long as you did your very best, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. In life, doing your very best is all that matters. And if you learn how to pat your own back, you’ll eventually stop overthinking and practically learn how to enjoy your life. Therefore, before you begin conditioning yourself against overthinking, you’ll first need to learn how to congratulate your efforts on trivial achievements. For instance, if you were lucky to wake up this morning, congratulate yourself for that. Then proceed with giving your very best in everything you do for the rest of the day instead of overthinking and worrying about the unexpected challenges you might end up facing. If you are dating someone whom you love with all of your heart, then give relationship your absolute best. That way, if fate takes a twist and he or she ends up becoming an ex, the fact that you did your best will stop you from stressing and overthinking. You also need to understand that learning how to do your best in every situation is easier said than done. This means you’ll have to stop being lazy (if you are) and learn to appreciate the quality that hard work brings to one’s life. You’ll also need to understand that taking shortcuts will water down all the efforts you put in towards positive thinking. And with that in mind, always try and focus on making yourself an honest, hardworking person. Once you do that, then you’ll stop thinking over petty stuff that won’t make you a better person. Insert here 3. Stop overthinking about the future Insert here @sibakow's post Insert here Overthinking about the uncertainty of tomorrow is absurd because no one knows what tomorrow will bring. And for that matter, it is always wise to do your best in planning and pray for good fortunes. After doing this, all we can have is a positive mindset as we wait for the unknown to unveil. Instead of worrying about your future with an ex or where you’ll get food to eat, it’s better for you to have faith in the positive vibrations you send into the universe. Having this kind of faith will put a stop to over thinking once and for all. Wild animals don’t have a job, a calendar, a schedule, a designer or a career. But they all somehow go to sleep on a full belly. And most of them live their lives out in the wild until they die of old age. You, on the other hand, are an intelligent being with a much bigger brain capacity. This simply means you can do way better than these animals. So why waste precious time worrying about trivial things? If this kind of thinking doesn’t put a stop to your over thinking problem, then I’m afraid nothing ever will. In summary, learn how to never sell yourself short and you’ll stop overthinking especially about things that don’t even matter. Also, make a habit of looking back and counting all of the blessings and achievements you’ve attained over the years. You’ll be surprised at how much you are capable to the point that over thinking about the future will feel stupid – because it is stupid. Insert here 4. Stop, write down your fears, conquer overthinking Insert here @julliamark1993's post Insert here Psychiatrists say it feels much better when someone understands the reasons behind their constant worrying. At times, minds drift and the result of doing this is we start worrying about things that are of zero importance. So, the next time you find yourself worrying about anything, give it time and collect your thoughts. After about five minutes of worrying, find a pen and paper and write down everything that made you worry. Critically analyze each of these factors in a bid to understand why they are responsible for your over thinking. In most cases, almost all of these facts of worry will turn out to either be things you can’t control or learning opportunities. Once you are done performing this rather simple exercise, rip the paper into pieces and discard them. Ripping the paper that has all your worries written on is a symbolic gesture that shows you’ll always be bigger than your problems. And if you can embrace that kind of mentality, then you’ll put a stop to overthinking and worry about petty stuff that doesn’t even matter. Always remember that practice makes perfect. The more you keep on doing this practice, the better you’ll become good at it. Insert here 5. Stop over thinking by appreciating the fear Insert here @maria_ma5555's post Insert here If you ever find yourself worrying a little too much about what tomorrow will bring, then it’s time you changed the perspective on how you view fear. Fear is beneficial but only when you find the strength rise up and conquer it. You just need to learn how to switch it up your thinking a little and focus on the positive side of fear. E.g. Instead of fearing what an ex will say about you after a breakup, just accept the relationship is over and move on. Doing what you fear will always have a positive effect on you since you’ll learn how to be confident. You’ll also enjoy your life without worrying much about what people say behind your back. And that’s the true definition of freedom especially in this dog-eat-dog world we call home. When you fear to choose a much healthier diet over the junk food that’s making you sick, then that’s exactly what you need to do. If you are scared of losing someone, tell him or her how you feel without fearing the outcome. In short, learning how to do the things you fear is what’ll make you grow and stop you from over thinking. There is always a rainbow at the end of every storm. Therefore, learn how to throw caution to the wind, live your life and explore your full potential. And even if there isn’t a rainbow at the end of your storm, at least the storm would have come to an end. Insert here 6. Stop over thinking by embracing the awkwardness Insert here @cathymadison8411's post Insert here One effective way of putting a stop to your over thinking problem is by embracing your awkwardness. The reason why we always end up overthinking is that everyone wants to be a perfectionist. This is despite our full knowledge that no one or nothing will ever be perfect. Therefore, the next time you find yourself worrying about not being polished enough for an interview, stop and slap some sense into your head. The same should happen when you find yourself concerned whether or not your date will like you. This kind of mentality will only make you worry too much and leave you at your worst. But if you learn how to embrace your awkwardness and the fact not being perfect is in fact perfectly normal, then you’ll stop over thinking and enjoy life. Never worry about tomorrow and whatever challenges it will bring is what makes life a tad more exciting. You’ve made it this far all by yourself and there is nothing stopping you from doing the same, still all by yourself. Your perspective is a very important part of embracing your imperfections. And if you do this right, you’ll end up hacking life today and look forward to whatever tomorrow brings. Insert here 7. Living life a step at a time stops you from overthinking Insert here @meriam_mllaouah's post Insert here The mind is wired to look for shortcuts especially when faced with a seemingly daunting task. Therefore, breaking down tasks and thoughts goes a long way in helping you put a stop to your overthinking problem. For instance, if you’re having a hard time getting over an ex, start taking it a day at a time and let time do its wonders healing you. The same applies to when you no clue of where to get food. Always remember that if you got food yesterday and today, then you’ll definitely get some food tomorrow. If someone is giving you a hard time, try and analyze his or her importance in your life before overreacting. You’ll end up saving yourself a whole lot of trouble that comes with over thinking and worrying. In summary, everything good always boils down to your ability to break down thoughts and tasks. And just like it is the case with everything else, practicing how to take things a step at a time takes time and patience. Therefore, be patient and take pride in whatever you are doing and let everything fall into place. You have to believe in the process for it to successfully come to fruition. Insert here 8. Change your friends and environment Insert here @annadx95's post Insert here Overthinking is not only self-inflicted but can also be as a result of entertaining friends who keep making you doubt your abilities. If you happen to have such people in your circles, its time you dropped them like you would a hot potato. If you surround yourself with people who don’t appreciate your worth, you are highly likely to always find yourself in doubt and over thinking. Self-doubt about what tomorrow will bring is what opens the door to overthinking. The same thing happens when you spend time with people who can’t just shut up about an ex that’s never coming back. So, how do you get rid of such toxic company? Well, it’s pretty easy. You just cut them off – end of story. Contrary to popular belief, dropping toxic people is rather easy. Cut them off and if they ask for an explanation, just go ahead and tell them the plain truth. Tell them they are a very toxic bunch and you decided to leave before real damage was done to your mental health. And whether they choose to accept it or not, that shouldn’t be your problem. Insert here 9. Have faith in God Insert here @tello.eman's post Insert here Unfortunately, most contemporary people don’t believe in God. And that’s where they all went wrong. Different religions refer to God by different names and there are a ton of other reliable pieces of evidence that points to the existence of a supreme being. Sometimes casting your burdens unto Him might be all you need in order to be at peace. Whether you are lacking food or someone evil is against you, you’ll have nothing to worry about as long as you put God in control. Praying about every situation and leaving it up to God is all you need to do. Sometimes, something as seemingly trivial as believing and trusting in a higher power can help deal with overthinking. And the good thing about believing is that you don’t have to conform to any religion to be accepted by God. All you need to do is humble yourself before His presence and tell Him what’s bothering you. That’s exactly what you need to focus on and overthinking will automatically become a thing of the past. Insert here 10. Smile Insert here A lot of people seem to underestimate the power behind a simple smile. A smile can end up changing your rather cloudy day for the better and the good thing is that it doesn’t really take much to smile. By now you ought to have known that the kind of vibe you send out to the world is the same kind of vibe that will find its way right back to you. Even if you are having a difficult time thinking about tomorrow, an ex or someone who is against you, just smile. Make a habit of smiling even when unsure and you’ll be surprised by how things will change for the better. In addition to smiling a lot, also learn how to enjoy the present despite going through a hardship. Smiling and staying positive helps a great deal especially when constantly worrying about the uncertainties of tomorrow, an ex or where to find food to eat. Again, practice always makes perfect. With that in mind, if you haven’t been smiling enough, it’s never too late for you start. Insert here Conclusion Insert here @inyourgene's post Insert here If you are a victim of overthinking, the first thing you need to do is acknowledging that you indeed have a problem. Acceptance is the first step towards your healing since it breaks you free from the clutches of mental sickness. You should then look for a good psychiatrist to help you out with positive thinking as well as mental conditioning. You need to look for a good psychiatrist is because you can’t tell just how severe the damage overthinking has done. If you can’t afford a psychiatrist, then you ought to learn how to condition yourself. You can start by learning how to accept the things you can’t change. For instance, if people don’t like you for no reason, then that’s something you can’t control. Accept it and continue living your life. If you can change something, then, by all means, change it. You can also avoid over thinking by surrounding yourself with positive people. Positivity always has a way rub off on people in a very good way. Also, make a habit of doing things that make you happy and stop thinking way too much about the consequences. Last but not least, always remind yourself that you don’t own all the problems in the world. Therefore, throwing caution to the wind is always the best idea as long as you are doing what is best for your mental and physical health. Just relax and let Jesus take the wheel!

1. Stop overthinking and practice gratitude

Someone very wise once said that being alive is the biggest win you’ll ever have. Therefore, it really doesn’t matter what you did, did wrong or didn’t do. As long as you are alive, then you still have a chance in life. So, how does gratitude work and why is it important in the fight to put a stop to overthinking? Well, it’s pretty simple. For starters, learn how to appreciate the little triumphs in your life. For instance, if your business is struggling, stop everything you are doing and appreciate the fact that you still have a business rather than overthinking. If you have a big head and some disgruntled elements think you are unattractive, appreciate the fact that your head is intact and working perfectly well. If you ever find yourself worrying about what tomorrow will bring, stop over thinking and congratulate yourself for making it today as well as the day before. At first, you might not realize how far the practice of gratitude can take you. But with time, you’ll notice the aura of positive vibes surrounding you as you subliminally used gratitude to put a stop to negative thinking. In the long run, you won’t even realize when or how you stopped overthinking. A little gratitude can not only help you put a stop to over thinking but make you happy and content with your life.

2. Doing your best and letting God do the rest

Whether you broke up with your ex or cooked some “subpar” food according to those who had the “misfortune” of eating it, never let it get into your head. As long as you did your very best, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. In life, doing your very best is all that matters. And if you learn how to pat your own back, you’ll eventually stop overthinking and practically learn how to enjoy your life. Therefore, before you begin conditioning yourself against overthinking, you’ll first need to learn how to congratulate your efforts on trivial achievements. For instance, if you were lucky to wake up this morning, congratulate yourself for that. Then proceed with giving your very best in everything you do for the rest of the day instead of overthinking and worrying about the unexpected challenges you might end up facing. If you are dating someone whom you love with all of your heart, then give relationship your absolute best. That way, if fate takes a twist and he or she ends up becoming an ex, the fact that you did your best will stop you from stressing and overthinking. You also need to understand that learning how to do your best in every situation is easier said than done. This means you’ll have to stop being lazy (if you are) and learn to appreciate the quality that hard work brings to one’s life. You’ll also need to understand that taking shortcuts will water down all the efforts you put in towards positive thinking. And with that in mind, always try and focus on making yourself an honest, hardworking person. Once you do that, then you’ll stop thinking over petty stuff that won’t make you a better person.

3. Stop overthinking about the future

Overthinking about the uncertainty of tomorrow is absurd because no one knows what tomorrow will bring. And for that matter, it is always wise to do your best in planning and pray for good fortunes. After doing this, all we can have is a positive mindset as we wait for the unknown to unveil. Instead of worrying about your future with an ex or where you’ll get food to eat, it’s better for you to have faith in the positive vibrations you send into the universe. Having this kind of faith will put a stop to over thinking once and for all. Wild animals don’t have a job, a calendar, a schedule, a designer or a career. But they all somehow go to sleep on a full belly. And most of them live their lives out in the wild until they die of old age. You, on the other hand, are an intelligent being with a much bigger brain capacity. This simply means you can do way better than these animals. So why waste precious time worrying about trivial things? If this kind of thinking doesn’t put a stop to your over thinking problem, then I’m afraid nothing ever will. In summary, learn how to never sell yourself short and you’ll stop overthinking especially about things that don’t even matter. Also, make a habit of looking back and counting all of the blessings and achievements you’ve attained over the years. You’ll be surprised at how much you are capable to the point that over thinking about the future will feel stupid – because it is stupid.

4. Stop, write down your fears, conquer overthinking

Psychiatrists say it feels much better when someone understands the reasons behind their constant worrying. At times, minds drift and the result of doing this is we start worrying about things that are of zero importance. So, the next time you find yourself worrying about anything, give it time and collect your thoughts. After about five minutes of worrying, find a pen and paper and write down everything that made you worry. Critically analyze each of these factors in a bid to understand why they are responsible for your over thinking. In most cases, almost all of these facts of worry will turn out to either be things you can’t control or learning opportunities. Once you are done performing this rather simple exercise, rip the paper into pieces and discard them. Ripping the paper that has all your worries written on is a symbolic gesture that shows you’ll always be bigger than your problems. And if you can embrace that kind of mentality, then you’ll put a stop to overthinking and worry about petty stuff that doesn’t even matter. Always remember that practice makes perfect. The more you keep on doing this practice, the better you’ll become good at it.

5. Stop overthinking by appreciating the fear

If you ever find yourself worrying a little too much about what tomorrow will bring, then it’s time you changed the perspective on how you view fear. Fear is beneficial but only when you find the strength rise up and conquer it. You just need to learn how to switch it up your thinking a little and focus on the positive side of fear. E.g. Instead of fearing what an ex will say about you after a breakup, just accept the relationship is over and move on. Doing what you fear will always have a positive effect on you since you’ll learn how to be confident. You’ll also enjoy your life without worrying much about what people say behind your back. And that’s the true definition of freedom especially in this dog-eat-dog world we call home. When you fear to choose a much healthier diet over the junk food that’s making you sick, then that’s exactly what you need to do. If you are scared of losing someone, tell him or her how you feel without fearing the outcome. In short, learning how to do the things you fear is what’ll make you grow and stop you from over thinking. There is always a rainbow at the end of every storm. Therefore, learn how to throw caution to the wind, live your life and explore your full potential. And even if there isn’t a rainbow at the end of your storm, at least the storm would have come to an end.

6. Stop overthinking by embracing the awkwardness

One effective way of putting a stop to your over thinking problem is by embracing your awkwardness. The reason why we always end up overthinking is that everyone wants to be a perfectionist. This is despite our full knowledge that no one or nothing will ever be perfect. Therefore, the next time you find yourself worrying about not being polished enough for an interview, stop and slap some sense into your head. The same should happen when you find yourself concerned whether or not your date will like you. This kind of mentality will only make you worry too much and leave you at your worst. But if you learn how to embrace your awkwardness and the fact not being perfect is in fact perfectly normal, then you’ll stop over thinking and enjoy life. Never worry about tomorrow and whatever challenges it will bring is what makes life a tad more exciting. You’ve made it this far all by yourself and there is nothing stopping you from doing the same, still all by yourself. Your perspective is a very important part of embracing your imperfections. And if you do this right, you’ll end up hacking life today and look forward to whatever tomorrow brings.

7. Living life a step at a time stops you from overthinking

The mind is wired to look for shortcuts especially when faced with a seemingly daunting task. Therefore, breaking down tasks and thoughts goes a long way in helping you put a stop to your overthinking problem. For instance, if you’re having a hard time getting over an ex, start taking it a day at a time and let time do its wonders healing you. The same applies to when you no clue of where to get food. Always remember that if you got food yesterday and today, then you’ll definitely get some food tomorrow. If someone is giving you a hard time, try and analyze his or her importance in your life before overreacting. You’ll end up saving yourself a whole lot of trouble that comes with over thinking and worrying. In summary, everything good always boils down to your ability to break down thoughts and tasks. And just like it is the case with everything else, practicing how to take things a step at a time takes time and patience. Therefore, be patient and take pride in whatever you are doing and let everything fall into place. You have to believe in the process for it to successfully come to fruition.

8. Change your friends and environment

Overthinking is not only self-inflicted but can also be as a result of entertaining friends who keep making you doubt your abilities. If you happen to have such people in your circles, its time you dropped them like you would a hot potato. If you surround yourself with people who don’t appreciate your worth, you are highly likely to always find yourself in doubt and over thinking. Self-doubt about what tomorrow will bring is what opens the door to overthinking. The same thing happens when you spend time with people who can’t just shut up about an ex that’s never coming back. So, how do you get rid of such toxic company? Well, it’s pretty easy. You just cut them off – end of story. Contrary to popular belief, dropping toxic people is rather easy. Cut them off and if they ask for an explanation, just go ahead and tell them the plain truth. Tell them they are a very toxic bunch and you decided to leave before real damage was done to your mental health. And whether they choose to accept it or not, that shouldn’t be your problem.

9. Have faith in God

Unfortunately, most contemporary people don’t believe in God. And that’s where they all went wrong. Different religions refer to God by different names and there are a ton of other reliable pieces of evidence that points to the existence of a supreme being. Sometimes casting your burdens unto Him might be all you need in order to be at peace. Whether you are lacking food or someone evil is against you, you’ll have nothing to worry about as long as you put God in control. Praying about every situation and leaving it up to God is all you need to do. Sometimes, something as seemingly trivial as believing and trusting in a higher power can help deal with overthinking. And the good thing about believing is that you don’t have to conform to any religion to be accepted by God. All you need to do is humble yourself before His presence and tell Him what’s bothering you. That’s exactly what you need to focus on and overthinking will automatically become a thing of the past.

10. Smile

A lot of people seem to underestimate the power behind a simple smile. A smile can end up changing your rather cloudy day for the better and the good thing is that it doesn’t really take much to smile. By now you ought to have known that the kind of vibe you send out to the world is the same kind of vibe that will find its way right back to you. Even if you are having a difficult time thinking about tomorrow, an ex or someone who is against you, just smile. Make a habit of smiling even when unsure and you’ll be surprised by how things will change for the better. In addition to smiling a lot, also learn how to enjoy the present despite going through a hardship. Smiling and staying positive helps a great deal especially when constantly worrying about the uncertainties of tomorrow, an ex or where to find food to eat. Again, practice always makes perfect. With that in mind, if you haven’t been smiling enough, it’s never too late for you start.

Final word

If you are a victim of overthinking, the first thing you need to do is acknowledging that you indeed have a problem. Acceptance is the first step towards your healing since it breaks you free from the clutches of mental sickness. You should then look for a good psychiatrist to help you out with positive thinking as well as mental conditioning. You need to look for a good psychiatrist is because you can’t tell just how severe the damage overthinking has done. If you can’t afford a psychiatrist, then you ought to learn how to condition yourself. You can start by learning how to accept the things you can’t change. For instance, if people don’t like you for no reason, then that’s something you can’t control. Accept it and continue living your life. If you can change something, then, by all means, change it. You can also avoid over thinking by surrounding yourself with positive people. Positivity always has a way rub off on people in a very good way. Also, make a habit of doing things that make you happy and stop thinking way too much about the consequences. Last but not least, always remind yourself that you don’t own all the problems in the world. Therefore, throwing caution to the wind is always the best idea as long as you are doing what is best for your mental and physical health. Just relax and let Jesus take the wheel!

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