My Favorite Tool for Overthinking
Summary
- When you're overthinking, instead of locking yourself away to dwell on your thoughts, try what I call "productive distraction."
- Choose an activity that demands your attention and makes it difficult for you to continue overthinking. It helps break the cycle of over-analysis.
- Engaging in a task for a few hours can provide a fresh perspective when you return to what was on your mind.
- For example, riding a motorcycle through traffic requires such focus that it's nearly impossible to worry about something like a disagreement with your girlfriend.
Video
How To Take Action
Here are some easy strategies to tackle overthinking:
A good way to stop overthinking is to do something that keeps your hands and mind busy and that aligns with your growth goals. For example, if you're into gardening, focus on planting new seeds or arranging your garden. This can redirect your thoughts and when you return to your original problem, you might see things more clearly.
You might also consider working on a puzzle or crafting something with your hands. This not only distracts you from overthinking, but you also get something cool out of it which feels rewarding.
Another helpful tip is to schedule short workouts throughout your day. Exercise is a powerful way to clear your mind. You could try a quick jog or even a few minutes of yoga. It doesn't have to be long, just enough to shift your focus.
Adding simple organized tasks to your routine can help too. Organize a shelf, clean out a drawer, or sort through your inbox. This kind of activity gives your mind a break from the stress and when you're done, you will have a more organized space.
When you're feeling overwhelmed with thoughts, try writing them down. Sometimes, putting thoughts on paper can help you sort through them and see which ones really matter.
Lastly, consider a new learning activity, like watching a documentary or listening to a podcast. This can introduce new ideas and perspectives, which can be a great way to engage your mind and stop the overthinking cycle.
Remember, the key is to find tasks that are engaging and useful to you. These small steps can make a big difference in managing overthinking without taking too much time or money.
Quotes by Leila Hormozi
"probably my favorite tool when it comes to overthinking is the act of doing something else"
– Leila Hormozi
"I call this productive distraction"
– Leila Hormozi
"what you want to do is put yourself in an environment that makes it harder to overthink than easier"
– Leila Hormozi
"find something else to do for a couple hours and then come back to it and see how different you feel"
– Leila Hormozi
"if you are thinking about something specifically that's in front of you right now, it is very hard to overthink about something else"
– Leila Hormozi
Full Transcript
probably my favorite tool when it comes to overthinking is the act of doing something else I call this productive distraction what most people do is they're like I'm locking myself in my room I'm not doing anything I've I've got to think through my overthinking which is just amplifying the cycle of overthinking what you want to do is put yourself in an environment that makes it harder to overthink than easier find something else to do for a couple hours and then come back to it and see how different you feel if you are thinking about something specifically that's in front of you right now it is very hard to overthink about something else so if I'm riding a motorcycle in four lanes of traffic it's pretty hard to think about this other thing going off with my girlfriend
