Prompt: What could you do less?
Reflection
Lately, I’ve realized just how much time I spend overthinking. From small decisions and blog posts, or even everyday choices, I often spend hours over-analyzing. By the end of the day, it’s no wonder I feel mentally drained. Sometimes thinking things through helps, but most of the time it feels like running a marathon in my head.
“You don’t have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you.”
– Dan Millman
I recently found myself replaying which blog post to publish. I would spin ideas over and over in my head, wondering which one was better. In hindsight, I realize I could have just started one idea and let it flow naturally.
Why It Happens
Overthinking can make even tiny tasks feel enormous. Something small, like a pebble, suddenly feels like a mountain.
This can cause you to lose track of time. That time could be spent doing something productive or simply enjoying the present. I was preparing to transfer to my four-year college. I obsessed over creating the perfect plan for meetings and applications. Scheduling two meetings would have been enough and saved me a lot of unnecessary stress.
A Better Approach
I’ve noticed I feel more productive and calmer when I stop overthinking. Making a decision and moving ahead without giving it a third or fourth thought comes more naturally. Mistakes happen, but they are rarely as bad as the stress I create imagining everything that could go wrong.
“Don’t get too deep in your head, it’s a dangerous place to wander.”
– Unknown
My Goal
It’s simple: think less, do more. Worry less about the perfect choice. Stop replaying the same thought over and over. Focus on the goal, take action, and learn as I go. Trust that I can adapt to whatever comes up. Stressing about what hasn’t happened yet only hurts my well-being.
Closing Thought
Overthinking will probably never disappear completely. Still, I can notice it sooner and gently shift that energy toward actually doing something. That’s where the real progress happens.
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