The habit of overthinking can have a real impact on your well-being. Overthinking is simply what its name suggests— thinking too much. Overthinking is going over the same thought again and again, analysing the simplest of situations until all sense of proportion has gone. When we ponder on a certain thought it can snowball into bigger, more extreme negative thinking, says Ashley Carroll, a psychologist. “Overthinking becomes a problem when it starts to affect everyday life,” Carroll says. “Overthinking can also affect physical health, some of my patients deal with negative thoughts and anxiety and have also experienced headaches, body aches and stomach problems,” she says. It is very healthy to know what triggers your thoughts, it might be a stem from past trauma. How to stop overthinking Putting an end to rehashing, second-guessing and catastrophic predictions is easier said than done, but with constant practice, you can limit your negative thinking pattern, and here are some ways to do it: Notice when you are thinking too much Start paying attention to what you think about when you notice that you are replaying events in your mind over and over again, or worrying about things you can’t control, just be sure that your thoughts aren’t productive, says Anitha Sendakize, a psychologist. Challenge your thoughts “It is easy to get carried away with negative thoughts, so before you get to that extent make sure you challenge your thoughts to stay positive and refreshed, sometimes I just feel tired and anxious but I always try to keep my head up high,” says Kevin Ruterana, a videographer. Keep yourself busy Keeping yourself busy can be another way of getting over overthinking, because telling yourself not to think about something will only backfire, the more you try to avoid thoughts from entering into your brain the more likely they will pop up. Focus more on problem-solving Keep a positive lookout for solutions, dwelling on your problems isn’t helpful but looking for solutions is, stop asking yourself why things happen and find out what you can do about it. Have time for self-reflection “Stewing on your problems for a long time is not productive, but a brief reflection could help, think about how to do things differently, recognise your potential,” says Emmanuel Manirarora, a yoga instructor.
