How to Stop Overthinking

It is a golden rule to think about something before speaking. But it’s not good if you think so much that you don’t know what to do or stress yourself out. Are you looking for a way to stop worrying too much?

Table of Contents

Get rid of Thoughts

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Accept the fact that you are thinking too much. Just like eating, thinking is a necessary act for human survival, so it can sometimes be difficult to judge if you are thinking too much. However, here are a few points worth noting that will tell you the answer:

Do you keep thinking about one thing? Is the thing you’re thinking about at a standstill? If so, perhaps this is a sign that you should stop thinking.
Do you look at this issue from different perspectives? If you find too many ways to approach a problem before finding a solution, you are thinking too much.
Do you go to 20 different people to solve a problem? If so, you should stop asking for too many opinions about a thing before driving yourself crazy.
Do people constantly tell you: should you stop thinking too much? Do people make fun of you for thinking you’re a thinker, a philosopher, or all the time meditating? If so, they’re probably right.

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Meditation. If you feel like you don’t know how to stop thinking too much, you need to learn to get rid of your troublesome thoughts and see things in a calmer way. ^{[1] X Research Source} Imagine thinking as well as breathing – something you always do naturally. But when necessary, you can also hold your breath. Practicing meditation will help you know how to clear the thoughts in your head.

Set aside 15 to 20 minutes a day to meditate in the morning. It will be very helpful to focus on the present moment and get rid of the vicious thoughts.
You can also meditate at night to help calm yourself down.

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Motor. Running or walking briskly will help you forget about annoying thoughts and focus on your body. Take part in exciting sports like volleyball, martial arts or beach volleyball. That will help you focus on the exercise and you won’t have time to think. Here are some subjects you should try:

Circuit gym (a series of consecutive exercises, without rest and using equipment). Having to change equipment when practicing continuously when hearing the alarm will help you forget your thoughts.
Long walk. Being in the middle of nature, enjoying its beauty and peace will also help you focus more on the present moment.
Swim. Swimming is a physical activity where you cannot think while swimming.

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Speak out loud your thoughts. When you’ve said everything you think, even if it’s just to yourself, you’ve begun to get rid of those thoughts. Walk around and speed up if necessary. When all thoughts are out, they will no longer linger in your head.

You can tell it to yourself or to a trusted friend.

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Look for advice. You may have lost the energy to think, but someone else may offer a different perspective that makes the problem easier to understand. This will help you to get rid of disturbing thoughts. Your friend can make you feel better, solve your problems, and make you realize how much time you spent thinking.

In addition, when you spend time with friends, you will not think much anymore. That is very helpful.

Thought Control

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Make a list of the things that are really worrying you. You can write on paper or type. First, you should identify the right problem, write down the solutions, list the pros and cons of each solution. When you see your thoughts, you will stop wondering. When you can’t write any more, you’re done and can stop thinking.

If making a list like the above doesn’t help you, just follow your hunch. If there are more than two options that you think are equally good, continuing to think about it won’t help you at all. This is the time to think carefully.

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Keep a diary of the things that worry you. Instead of going over and over with certain thoughts, jot everything down in your mind on a daily basis. At the end of the week, review what you wrote and make a note of the things that worry you the most. You will have to deal with them first.

Keep a journal at least a few times a week. This will help you get used to “taking time to think”. You will gradually get used to sitting down and thinking for a while instead of letting them keep you busy all day.

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Make a to-do list. Make a list of things you need to do in a day. Unless “thinking” is a priority for you, this will help you see things that are more important than sitting in contemplation all day. The fastest way to organize your thoughts is to turn them into concrete plans. If you think you’ve been sleep deprived lately, make a plan to get more sleep instead of worrying about it.

That list will be very helpful and help you solve even bigger problems. For example “spend more time with family”.

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Set yourself a time to think every day. It may sound crazy, but taking time each day to worry, wonder, daydream, and get lost in your thoughts will help you effectively control your thoughts. If needed, you can give yourself 1 hour, for example, 5 to 6 hours a day, to sit and think. Then reduce the time to half an hour. If unhappy thoughts come up during the day, remind yourself, “I’ll think about it at 5 p.m. this afternoon.”

This may sound a bit funny, but you should try it before you judge.

Living with Reality

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Solve as many problems as possible. If the problem is that you think too much about things that don’t work or things that are out of your control, then you can’t solve the problem. Think about things that you can solve instead of “thinking, thinking, thinking again” with no results. Here are a few things you can do:

Instead of thinking about whether or not the person of your dreams likes you, take action. Ask that person out. What’s the worst that could happen?
If you’re worried that you’re falling behind everyone in school or work, make a list of what you need to do to succeed. Then do them.
If you often think about things like “What if…” or “If…”, try doing what you can.

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Communicate with people. Being around your loved ones makes you talk more than you think. Get out of the house a few times a week. Try to build lasting relationships with two to three people close to home and compatible with you. If you are alone, you tend to think more.

It’s good to be alone at times, but it’s important to alternate between hanging out with friends, relaxing, and having fun.

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Find a new hobby. Take the time to learn things that are new to you. A new hobby, whatever it is, will help you focus on it for good results. Don’t think you already know what you like and don’t need to learn more. A new hobby will help you stay in the present and focus on creativity or activity. Try some of the following:

Write a poem or short story
Take a history study class
Take a pottery class
Learn Karate Martial Arts
Surf
Try cycling instead of driving a car or motorbike

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Let’s go dance. There are many ways to dance – you can dance alone in your room, at a disco with friends, or take a class that teaches comedy, jazz, foxtrot or swing. Whatever the dance, you will control your body, listen to the lyrics and enjoy life. It’s okay if you dance badly. In fact, you’ll be more focused on the dance moves than on wandering around.

Taking a dance class is a great way to start a new hobby, while also helping you learn how to dance properly.

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Let’s explore nature. Step outside and look at the trees, enjoy the scent of roses and wash your face with fresh water. You will enjoy that time, immersed in nature and temporarily forget your sorrows. You will also be opened your mind when going to explore nature like that. Put on sunscreen, put on your sneakers and stop lounging around in the room.

If you don’t like walking, running, or surfing, make it a goal to walk around the park at least once or twice a week. Or plan a picnic with friends on the upcoming vacation. Or go to a place with a large lake or ocean to sit and watch.
If it’s still too much for you, just going out for a walk is enough. Going outside for some fresh air will also make you happier, healthier, and think less.

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Read more . Getting to know other people’s thoughts not only gives you a different perspective, but also helps you stop thinking about yourself too much. In fact, reading biographies of successful people will inspire you. You will see: every great idea is accompanied by a decisive action. Reading makes you feel like you’re in another world, and that’s great too.

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Make a list of things for which you are grateful. Every day, list at least 5 things that make you grateful. This will help you focus on other people and other things. If writing every day is too much, you can write weekly. You can write anything. Even if a waiter poured you more coffee.

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Listen to good music. Listening to a great song will help you connect with the outside world. You can go to a show, put on an old CD, or get an old fashioned record player and listen to some old music. Close your eyes, let the music surround you, and enjoy the moment.

You don’t have to listen to Mozart, or some kind of scholarly or classy music. Listening to Katy Perry’s music can also help.

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Laugh more. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Go see a comedy or a funny TV show you like. You can also watch funny videos on YouTube. Do everything you can to make you laugh and forget everything that’s not funny. Don’t underestimate the importance of laughter.

Advice

Don’t dig into the past, especially unhappy things. You should know: digging up the past will make you immersed in it for a long time and become confused.
Thinking is a process that can be both beneficial and harmful. You should only spend your mind thinking about good deeds. That will make you a better person.
Always remember that you are not alone. And why do we need to sleep? That’s because we need rest to regain our strength.
Let’s play with pets. It’s a great way to distract yourself. They will make you laugh and realize: every little thing in the world matters.
When you’re thinking, don’t beat yourself up. It only makes you more anxious and over-thinking. Accept all situations and solutions even if they are not satisfactory. Deal with frustration by getting rid of it. Think in your head: “It didn’t end the way I expected. But I will get over it.” Using the word “overcome” sounds like a matter of survival. You will have to laugh when you realize how trivial the things you are worrying about, and how much pressure you put on yourself.
Stop reading this article and invite your friends over. Have fun and relax with them.
When you feel like you’re thinking too much, take some time to rest and analyze it.
Be proud that you are a thinker. You’re not trying to appear like that, you’re trying to manage the way you think more effectively.
You can try soaking in a hot tub, lighting scented candles, and relaxing. That is very effective.
Always keep a neutral attitude and have a “cold head” to connect information. Your mind will come to more informed conclusions if there are hormonal changes and adrenaline (a hormone in the adrenal glands that regulates nervous system activity) is reduced.
Always take the time to remember the good things in your life instead of the bad ones.
Take a breather. Breathe deeply for 5 to 10 breaths. This will help you focus on the present as well as on what you are doing at that time.

Steps

Get rid of Thoughts

Thought Control

Living with Reality

Advice

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