4 Ways to Redirect Your Thoughts and Curb Overthinking

“Delving in your thoughts will only delay your actions”

We all have sometime or the other heard in our life that we are overthinking. People often tell us to ‘stop overthinking’. But nobody really tells us how! There is no magical switch in our brains that can wishfully stop the intense flow of thoughts. There are, however, certain strategies that can help in redirecting our thoughts towards more positive, actionable outcomes. These can be looked upon as brain tools to get a better handle on the habit of overthinking.

So first let us understand why it is important to keep the overthinking pattern in check. Here are few of the setbacks we all experience in life because of overthinking:

- Lesser work gets done in actuality

- Increased mental stress

- Less focus and concentration on tasks that we set out to do

- Overall feeling of negativity

These things sound familiar to you? Well then here are few tips and techniques that will help you in redirecting your thoughts:

1. Maintain a planner: When we have a set-out daily planner to to-do list in front of us, we are less likely to let our mind wander. Get in the habit of completing your to-do list at the end of the day.

2. Walk it out: Sometimes, overthinking can lead to anxiety and negativity. Instead of trying to fight your thoughts during such times, it is good to take a walk in the fresh air and redirect your mind.

3. Talk to friends/ colleagues/ experts: Nothing works like a good talking session to move your brain away from the trap of overthinking. If you feel the need for professional guidance, seek out an expert of a counselor.

4. Take actions: Last but not the least, keep on taking actions rather that thinking about the outcomes.

Follow these techniques with consistency and you will find that your brain will steadily be free of unnecessary thoughts and thinking patterns.