Overythinking: it sucks. I don’t know about you, but for me, it has caused me to have everything from sleepless nights to full-on anxiety. It can come from the smallest things, but now that we’re hitting exam season, where stress is an all-time high, it can really impact your day and cause you to lose hours that you just can’t afford to lose.
Analysis paralysis, another word for overthinking, is the state of analyzing a situation so much that a decision/action is never reached or taken, thereby paralyzing the outcome. This might be due to wanting to find the perfect solution, and being afraid that any other decision you make could lead to disastrous results. For me, it would be my study plan for the day. I could start to tell myself, “Okay, I’m going to spend 2 hours on this, and then 3 hours on that.” But by the end of the 2 hours on the first subject, my progress wouldn’t be as far along as I’d like and I’d be stuck at a crossroad of whether to continue until I was happy with my progress, or to move on and follow my preset schedule. If I continue on the first subject, then I’ll lose time that I need to spend on the second. But if I move on to the second, I’ll be distracted by the first. I’m feeling overwhelmed just typing this out. And add 3 more subjects into that conversation, my head is ready to explode and my stress level is spiking. This is just one example. Another example could be that some introverts get analysis paralysis from invitations to social settings they don’t feel like going to. Many students experience moments of panic from thoughts about the future after university, or from thoughts of potential exam results.
So how does one stop overthinking?
To flip a switch and turn off the tunnel vision, start by taking a deep breath. Do a half, or a full Sun Salutation. This is to ground yourself back into reality and away from the crazy rush of endless thoughts in your head. Awareness is the beginning of change.
Next, instead of scaring yourself with everything that can go wrong, think of what can go right. Overthinking is often caused by fear, and it’s easy to be paralyzed when you focus on every negative aspect. Even if you don’t really believe it, think of at least one thing that can go right and focus on that. Fake it until you make it; sooner or later, you’ll bring yourself to realize that whatever it is you’re overthinking about, it probably won’t go as bad as you’ve worked yourself up to believe it will. Nobody can predict the future, but sitting around and doing nothing won’t help it- so less thinking and more doing.
Finally, stop waiting for perfection. While good is the enemy of great, perfect is the enemy of good. Perfection is unrealistic. Perfection is impratical. Perfection will never come to those who sit around and wait. Focus on being good first, then being great. If you want an A on that exam, first you have to get yourself to a place where you know you’ll get a B, then study enough that you know you can get a B+, etc. etc.
A change in location can also be a good start to changing your perspective and state of mind. Taking a ten minute break to walk around the neighborhood and getting some fresh air can do wonders for your mood.
I know life can be stressful collegiettes, but I promise that things will turn out okay in the end.
Images obtained from:
http://www.operatietips.nl/en/category/blog/