Signs You Might Be Overthinking Life (From Someone Who's Been There)
Ever spent 20 minutes analyzing a two-word text? Welcome to the Over-thinkers Club – where membership is free, and second-guessing whether you belong here is basically the secret handshake.
Hypnosis, energy work, coaching and mind-body tools are all extremely effective toward reigning in your thoughts, but first let’s explore the telltale signs you might be an over-thinker before you spend another half hour wondering if this post was meant for you.
The Classic Overthinker Symptoms
Watch for that simple "Thanks for your feedback" email morphing into a three-hour writing project. You might find yourself crafting multiple versions, second-guessing every word choice, wondering if "Best regards" sounds too formal or "Thanks!" seems too casual, and contemplating whether adding an exclamation point makes you seem unprofessional – only to end up sending "Thanks for sharing" and immediately wishing you could recall it.
Then there's the conversation replay loop. Someone says "Talk soon!" and suddenly you're a linguistic detective. Was it a genuine soon or a polite brush-off? Could be a sign of hidden resentment (or maybe they were just breathing, but who can be sure?).
And let's talk about choosing what to wear. You might find yourself checking three weather apps, creating a mental spreadsheet of who saw you in what last week, and convincing yourself your trusted blazer somehow became unprofessional overnight – only to end up wearing the first outfit you tried on anyway.
Your Google History Might Look Like This
The classic overthinking search history often includes gems like:
"Can you die from drinking too much water?"
"What does it mean if a pigeon looks at you funny?"
"How to stop Googling everything"
Breaking Free: What Actually Works
Through years of coaching and personal experience, here are the most effective techniques I've found:
The Jar Technique
When thoughts start spiralling, simply say, "OK, brain, time to go back in your jar now." It's silly, but that's exactly why it works – humor breaks the overthinking spell every time.
Breathe, Baby, Breathe
Got your brain back in its jar? Good. Find a quiet spot, put one hand on your heart and the other on your belly. Breathe. Watch the path of the air from the minute it hits your nostrils right down to the rise of your chest, rise of your belly and back again. Just watch. Breathe. Feel. And if your brain tries to enter the picture (and it probably will) show it back to its jar. Do this for 30 breaths and see how you feel.
Remember: Overthinking isn't your personality – it's just a habit.
And like any habit, you can change it. I've seen countless people transform their relationship with their thoughts, often starting with simply learning to laugh at their own mental gymnastics and realizing that most things aren't nearly as complicated as they seem.
Now excuse me while I resist the urge to overthink whether this post was helpful enough – Kidding! Kidding!
