Wellness for Freelancers: How to Avoid Overthinking

Most of our thoughts occur due to what happened or what we think will happen. The truth is, we can’t suppress our thoughts. So we won’t ask you to stop overthinking literally. But we’re here to help you think better. 

Think of a garden, which has different flowers. Think of that garden as the mind, and each flower refers to your thoughts. If we aren’t intentional about pruning a flower, then it won’t grow and reach its potential. If we have too many flowers, then they won’t have room to grow. So the question is, which flowers do you want to bloom? What are you focusing on every single day?

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Not all thoughts may be positive. While some remind you of the good things in life, there are others that may worry you or make you anxious. We all know what our flowers are and what’s getting in the way. But finding the courage to leave behind what’s no longer serving your purpose, especially if that’s been following you for a long time, is what’s important. But this is better said than done. 

Overthinking can make you feel scared of change: scared of going for what you truly want because you think everything is stacked against you. It is times like this when you need to slow down, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that not all thoughts are important.  

How to Not Let Overthinking Get the Best of You 

Below, we give you a few tips to think better and improve your mental wellbeing, even by a small margin. 

1. Be selective about who you listen to 

We’ve realized that not all opinions matter. We all have certain people in our lives who feed off our mental peace. It is imperative not to let them get the best of you. Once you draw boundaries with people you know are impeding your growth, peace will come to you easily. Stay away from thoughts or opinions that don’t matter. Be kind to everyone, but only let a limited number of people and thoughts rent the space in my head.

2. Shed your inhibitions

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Most of your overthinking may involve you asking yourself what would happen if you did a certain thing. Here’s the thing: there is no clear answer to those questions. You may be overthinking about what would happen if you took that job, sent that email, or bought that house. You spend years in the “what if” phase, only to realize it’s a vicious cycle to which there is no end. While thinking things through is essential, you must also spring into action when required. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.”  

3. Practice mindfulness 

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It is a known fact that overthinking is one of the biggest sources of unhappiness. To mend this, you can partake in mindfulness activities. It can help bring joy and meaning into your life. Mindfulness doesn’t necessarily mean heavy-duty meditation. It can be as simple as focusing on your body, noticing your breathing pattern, being patient with your wandering thoughts, and so on. Mindfulness can ground you and instill gratitude. With increased self-awareness, over time, you can develop the ability to focus on things that actually matter. 

Apart from the tips mentioned above, it may also help to find ways to bring order to your daily life and seek therapy, depending on the intensity of your situation. Next time you worry about the present or future, ask yourself what can possibly go awry. 

Focus on yourself and identify the thorns you don’t want in your life. The best thing about the present is that you have another one tomorrow. Tell yourself that you are more than your thoughts. In order to reach your fullest potential, you must control them, and not the other way around.