09/20/2025
🌀 This National Overthinkers Day, let's address something many of us know too well: getting stuck in mental quicksand where the same worried thoughts spin endlessly. Here's a step-by-step approach to interrupt those exhausting thought cycles:
1️⃣ Notice you're in the loop - Simply recognizing "I'm overthinking this" activates your logical brain and starts breaking the pattern.
2️⃣ Name the thought pattern - Say "I'm having that worry about work again" instead of getting pulled into the content of the worry.
3️⃣ Set a timer for 10 minutes - Give yourself permission to worry fully during this time, then consciously shift your attention when it goes off.
4️⃣ Engage your body - Do jumping jacks, wash dishes, take a cold shower—physical movement interrupts mental loops.
5️⃣ Use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique - Name 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, 1 thing you taste.
6️⃣ Write it down - Transfer the thoughts from your head to paper—your brain relaxes when worries feel "handled.”
7️⃣ Ask yourself one question - "Is thinking about this right now helping me solve anything?" If not, redirect your attention.
8️⃣ Practice the redirect - Choose a go-to activity (call a friend, listen to music, organize something) for when loops start.
Remember, the goal is simple: to not get trapped by these thoughts. Everyone has them! With practice, you can learn to observe without being controlled by them.
