How to Tell If You’re Trapped in Overthinking (And How to Break Free)

How to Tell if You're Overthinking Everything

Have you ever considered that you might be overthinking?

Carefully planning a new idea or project is a great thing, but there comes a point when thinking needs to give way to action. Sometimes, though, we get so caught up in our thoughts that we never act at all. So, how do you know when planning turns into obsessive overthinking?

Ask yourself these questions:

How Many Times Have You Replayed the Same Thought?

It's natural to consider a new idea a few times. But if you're thinking about the same thing constantly for hours or even days, you're likely caught in a thought loop. This kind of repetition is a classic sign of overthinking.

Have You Replayed That Conversation in Your Head?

Overthinkers can’t let anything rest. If you find yourself revisiting past discussions to the point where you have every piece of dialogue memorized and analyzed, you're definitely overthinking. You're giving the conversation far more power than it deserves.

Can You See the Shades of Grey?

Overthinking tends to focus on absolutes. Everything is either all good or all bad, with no middle ground. If you find yourself struggling to see nuance and are focused only on black-and-white scenarios, you're overthinking. The world is full of complexities, and so is a healthy thought process.

How Much Do You Care About What Others Think?

This ties into replaying conversations. We often obsess over what someone said because we're worried about their opinion of us. If you're constantly concerned with how the world sees you, you're in a tough spot. The truth is, at this point, you're thinking about them far more than they're thinking about you.

What is Your Motivation?

If you're spending a lot of time trying to figure out why people are doing something, you’re on dangerous ground. Unless you want to find out something positive—like how they did something you want to emulate—you're just wasting your time. Unless it impacts you directly, someone else's motivation is really none of your business.

How Are You Sleeping?

This is a simple one. If racing thoughts are keeping you up at night, you're overthinking. Plain and simple. Bedtime is when you're supposed to let go and rest. If you can’t, your thoughts have taken over.

When you allow yourself to get caught in a spiral of worry and anxiety, you're letting your thoughts take control. Over time, this can keep you from the things you desire. When this happens, it's time to take a solid step back and restore your balance.