9 Practical Things You Can Do Every Day to Conquer Overthinking
Do you find yourself constantly overthinking about every little thing in your life? This habit creates a vicious cycle rooted in stress and anxiety, leading a person to a depressive and hopeless state.
Overthinking is a common problem that many people struggle with daily, so you are not alone if you are experiencing it. While the cycle may seem unbreakable, there are ways to overcome it and achieve inner peace.
This blog post will discuss nine practical ways to conquer overthinking. So if you're ready to start living a stress-free life, keep reading!
The Root Causes of Overthinking
Overthinking may seem harmless at first—that is, until it disrupts your sleep, behaviour, focus and decision-making. Usually, people only get a wake-up call that it’s time to change when the ill effects start to show. To give permanent solutions to overthinking, it is best to reflect on its root causes first before you can properly address them.
Desire for perfection
Overthinking happens because of people’s desire for everything to be perfect. Behind perfectionism is an overthinker's desire for control and zeroing out uncertainties, which is impossible most of the time. They also worry about everything that can go wrong, and the slightest mistake or change in plans bothers them a lot.
Childhood trauma
Childhood trauma is another cause of overthinking, and it can go on through a person’s adult years. A neglected child had no one to protect them, so they tend to develop a strong fight-or-flight urge and heightened vigilance to protect themselves. Even when they’re grown up, their mind will stay wary of the dangers around them.
Low self-esteem
Low self-esteem and lack of confidence push individuals to think too much about themselves—in a negative light, most of the time. The need to please others and fit society’s standards fills their minds; they have yet to achieve self-contentment and accept that they shine best by being true to themselves.
Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety have a lot of causes—toxic relationships, the desire to be successful, the life goals e pressure themselves to achieve. Anything in moderation is always good and can push us to reach our full potential, but too much can cause overthinking and stir up stress and anxiety.
Achieve Inner Peace: 9 Ways to Overcome Overthinking
Can you relate to the root causes discussed above, and do you find yourself thinking more than usual lately? It’s a tough battle to quiet the thoughts in your head, but it is doable. You can achieve inner peace, but it won’t happen overnight. Here are nine things you can consistently do daily to overcome overthinking.
1 - Be self-aware
Acknowledge that you have been doing an unhealthy amount of thinking. Becoming aware that overthinking will only do you bad is the first step to overcoming it.
Give yourself time to reflect and decide that this distressing habit has to stop. Point out the cause, and check out which among the tips we’ve listed here work best for you. That way, you can start giving your mind a break.
2 - Welcome distraction
Find ways to distract yourself when your mind starts wandering. For example, engaging in healthy habits like playing sports can help focus your mind on winning the game instead of overthinking. You can also keep your mind and hands busy with colouring, painting, crocheting, knitting or baking! Your creation will remind you that life still has beautiful things to offer.
3 - Pour it out on paper
It also helps a lot to have a journal where you can write out your thoughts. Keep it close so that you can pour out your raging ideas anytime overthinking strikes. It is as good as talking to someone, only that your journal is available 24/7, ready to take in your thoughts whenever you need it.
4 - Seek support
Nothing still beats having someone to talk to about what you are thinking. Open up to a trusted relative or friend that you are battling overthinking. Even if they do not know about your situation, family and friends who care about you would always lend an ear and pieces of advice to calm you down. If all else fails, you can always seek professional help.
5 - Find your zen
Quiet your mind through meditation to find your zen and stay there. Through breathing techniques, your mind and body can relax. They allow you to focus on the present, the sensations of your body and the sounds in your environment.
The best thing about meditation is that you can do it any time of the day—even when there is noise. So, meditate as much as you can to relax your mind.
6 - Change your perspective
Give your mind a taste of its own medicine: challenge the negative thoughts with a different perspective. For instance, when you think you are not good enough, look back on your achievements and the plans you have yet to accomplish. Practise changing your perspective into constructive ones until it becomes a habit. Soon, you’ll have more positive thoughts than dire ones.
7 - Focus on problem-solving
Instead of fixating on your problems, focus on looking for solutions. When challenges arise, make it a habit to look for the silver lining and the possibilities. Doing this will turn overthinking into critical thinking and problem-solving; it will also sharpen the brain instead of dulling it. Now all you have to do is wait and see how problem-solving turns out for you.
8 - Count the good
This classic advice not only stops overthinking but also leads to a happier life. A grateful heart is a happy heart, so make it your morning routine to find something to be thankful for. Keep counting the good things as you go about your day. And when you lie in bed at night, look back on all the things that worked well and the lessons you learned from the day’s hurdles. Just let the good thoughts fill your day.
9 - Be the good
Showing kindness to others is also a way to calm the mind. When you see that there is so much you can do to help others, you will realise that there are bigger problems to solve than those running in your head. Helping others also boosts your self-worth, knowing that you can influence others' lives in a good way.
Relax Your Mind with Neat Nutrition’s Sleep + Relax Nootropic
As you make a conscious decision to overcome overthinking, you can also use some help from our relaxing plant-based supplement—the Sleep + Relax Nootropic.
Often, overthinking strikes in the dead of night, when all is quiet and you have nothing to do. So this supplement is perfect because it’s made with ashwagandha, 5-HTP, chamomile and natural serotonin. These ingredients work together to relax the muscles and the mind.
The supplement also helps produce melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep. When you have a sound sleep at night, you will be in a better mood in the morning. It will then be easier to transform negative thoughts into positive ones throughout the day. You will also have the energy to engage in the hobbies and relationships that keep your mind away from overthinking and fuel your happy hormones. If stressful situations arise, you can handle them better, too.
Final Thoughts
Many things can cause overthinking, which leads to stress and anxiety. However, there are ways to overcome it and achieve inner peace. The nine practical tips we shared can help you conquer overthinking today.
If you want an extra boost, try Neat Nutrition’s Sleep + Relax Nootropic. We formulated it to help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Its blend of natural ingredients may be the solution you need to quiet the constant chatter in your head. Conquering overthinking may be a long battle, but you’ll be a step ahead with the Sleep + Relax Nootropic supplement.