From difficulty sleeping to an increased risk of mental illness, studies have linked overthinking to a long list of negative consequences.
Why did my boss say that? How should I strike up a conversation that could lead to a sale? What if I talked too much at the meeting yesterday?
These are examples of the types of questions that might bombard you when you’re overthinking. And rather than reduce your uncertainty, overthinking can keep you stuck.
It can also introduce new problems into your life. From difficulty sleeping to an increased risk of mental illness, studies have linked overthinking to a long list of negative consequences.
But it’s easy to confuse overthinking with problem-solving. And you might convince yourself that ruminating, rehashing and worrying is somehow productive.
What’s the Difference Between the Two?
I work as a psychotherapist. As you can imagine, I’ve talked to countless clients who believed they had to invest a lot of time into worrying about specific problems. They were convinced that the more time they spent thinking about something, the more likely they would be to come up with a solution (or prevent something bad).
What they failed to understand was that solution to a problem doesn’t necessarily come from thinking harder.
Time and mental energy are our most valuable resources. So it would be wise to invest those resources into problem solving, rather than waste time overthinking.
A simple definition of problem solving is “actively looking for a solution.” In other words, you are figuring out how to sharpen skills, employ strategies, and take action steps. You will know that you are problem solving when you decrease your stress.
On the other hand, overthinking involves over-analyzing, worrying, and ruminating. These actions cause you to dwell on the problem at hand and prevent you from developing a solution.
Overthinking increases distress. This in turn makes you more likely to focus on the negative—which can lead to you being stuck in a state of perpetual anxiety.
How to Know When You’re Overthinking
Whether you’re experiencing a problem in the workplace or you’re not sure what sort of financial move you want to make, answer these questions. They can help you determine if you’re problem solving or overthinking:
- Does the problem at hand actually have a solution? Some problems just can’t be solved. A downturn in the economy, your partner’s health issue, or a mistake you already made can’t be fixed. But what you can do is change how you respond to these types of situations. Changing your emotional response might be a solution. Rehashing a prior dispute constitutes overthinking.
- Am I actively searching for a solution or focusing on the problem? Looking for strategies to get yourself out of debt is helpful. Thinking about how unfair your financial situation is or imagining yourself becoming homeless will keep you stuck.
- Am I accomplishing anything by thinking about this? It is helpful to think about work issues if you are trying to gain new perspective. But replaying your mistakes, rehashing an argument with a coworker, or imagining all the things that could go wrong on the job are prime examples of overthinking.
Make Your Thinking Productive
Pay attention to the times when you are tempted to invest more time thinking about a situation. If you’re problem-solving, keep going. If you’re overthinking, refuse to waste anymore time ruminating.
Once you learn to problem solve rather than overthink, you can devote your resources to productive activity. You’ll have the mental strength to devote your time and energy to worthwhile activities that will help you reach your greatest potential.
Source: The Difference Between Helpful Problem Solving And Harmful Overthinking