It's a golden rule to think before you speak, but you can run into trouble when you think so much that you fail to act, or think yourself into a state of uncontrollable anxiety. Are you looking for a way to stop thinking too much? Don't overthink it and read on!
Steps
1.
Accept that you're thinking too much. Just like eating, thinking is something we need to do to survive, so it is sometimes hard to judge when you are doing too much of it. However, there are several red flags that you are doing too much thinking for your own good. Here are a few of them:
Are you consumed by the same thought over and over again? Are you not making progress by thinking about this particular thing? If so, this may be a sign that you should move on.
Have you analyzed the same situation from a million angles? If you've found too many ways to look at something before you decide how to act, you may be being counterproductive.
Have you enlisted the help of your twenty closest friends in thinking about a particular thing? If so, then it's time to realize that you can only ask for so many opinions about the same idea before you drive yourself insane.
Are people constantly telling you to stop overthinking things? Do people tease you for brooding, being a philosopher, or staring out of rainy windows all the time? If so, they may have a point.
2. Learn to let go of your thoughts. Once you've accepted that you have a thinking problem, it's important to learn to let those niggling thoughts go. This will take practice but will be worth it in the end. Here are some great ways to let go of your thoughts:
Meditate. If you feel like you don't know how to stop thinking, you need to learn what it's like to "let go" of your thoughts, so that it's something you can do deliberately. Imagine that thinking is like breathing; you do it all the time, without even realizing it. But if you need to, you can hold your breath. Meditating will help you learn how to release your thoughts.
Exercise. Running or even walking vigorously can help you take your mind off of all of those annoying thoughts and to focus on your body. Participating in something particularly active, like power yoga or beach volleyball, will have you so focused on your body that you won't have time for your thoughts.
Say your ideas out loud. Once you've said everything aloud, even if you're talking to yourself, you've begun the process of letting go.
Ask for advice. You may have exhausted your own thinking power, but someone else might be able to offer a different perspective that makes the decision clearer. This can help let go of your troubling thoughts.
3.
Organize your ideas. Once you let go of some of your thoughts, you can rein in the remaining ones. Organizing your ideas can help you make decisions, recognize your priorities, and have a better sense of what thoughts to avoid. Here are some great ways to organize your ideas:
Make a practical list of the things that are troubling you. Whether you're writing on paper or a computer, you should first define a problem, write down your options, and then list the pros and cons for each option. Seeing your thoughts in front of you will also help you stop cycling through them in your head. Once you can't think of anything more to write, your mind has done its job, and it's time to stop thinking.
If making a list still doesn't help you make a decision, don't be afraid to Follow Your Intuition. If two or more options seem equally appealing, thinking more will not make things clearer. This is when you should listen to something deeper.
Keep a diary of the things that are troubling you. Instead of lingering over your most persistent thoughts, jot down all of the things on your mind every day. At the end of one week, go over what you've written and make a note of the things that are troubling you the most. You need to deal with those first.
Have a to-do list. Make a list of all the things you have to do on a certain day. Unless "brooding" is on your list of priorities, this will force you to see that you have more important things to do than to sit around pondering the meaning of the universe!
4
ACT At this point, you've used your mind, you've listened to your gut, and you've gotten a second opinion. Now you must be bold. Odds are, if you think too much, it's because your fears get the best of you, and you don't want to mess up. But there comes a point where you have to "fish or cut bait"! Here are some great ways to act more and think less:
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Be social. Surrounding yourself with people you love will keep you talking more and thinking less.
Join a club or try a new activity. This will keep you focused on the task at hand, such as bowling or knitting.
Read more. Focusing on the thoughts of other people will not only give you insight, but will keep you from thinking about yourself too much.
Reading biographies of inspirational men and women "of action" may inspire you to see that behind every great thought, there is an equally great action.
5.
Live in the Moment. Once you've resolved the thinking process, and taken action, focus your awareness on the here and now. Your mind will be tempted to pore over your decision, making you doubt yourself and worry, but what's done is done. Here are some great ways to live in the moment and to Stop Worrying and Start Living:
Every day, make a list of at least five things you are grateful for. This will make you focus on people and things instead of thoughts.
Take in a beautiful view as often as you can. This will make you appreciate the world you live in instead of all of those pesky thoughts.
Appreciate beautiful music. Listening to a great song can make you feel in touch with the world outside your own head.
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