WORRYING about something you can’t change will forever be the biggest waste of my time. Everyone can over think sometimes. When I overthink it never has a positive impact on me. It just creates an endless cycle of stress and worry. Which then results in me feeling less prepared, motivated and confident.

Some of the signs that occur when I’m over thinking are: An inability to think about anything else, being unable to relax, constantly feeling worried or anxious, fixating on things outside of your control, feeling mentally exhausted, having a lot of negative thoughts, replaying a situation or experience in your mind, second-guessing your decisions, and thinking of all the worst-case scenarios. Sound familiar? Worrying and overthinking are part of the human experience, but when left unchecked, they can take a toll on your wellbeing. When I took a step back and reflected on what causes me to overthink ? I came back to the fact my mindset was not solution focused. I would spend too much time dwelling on the problem and not focusing on a solution.

Reminding myself that thoughts are not facts and every thought I have is not truth, or accurate or even realistic and learning how to reframe them in a more positive way has suppressed my tendency to overthink. If you find yourself overthinking, challenge the negative thoughts. Ask yourself is this really realistic? Consider alternative scenarios and this can all help replace that nagging negative voice with more positive ones. 5-4-3-2-1 is probably the most common grounding technique psychologists recommend overthinking. It’s used so often because of how easy it is to do. Its effects alleviate feelings of fear, stress, anxiety, and more. But, most importantly, it helps clear your mind quickly. This exercise  is straightforward to learn and remember. As the name suggests, it is number-based and can be done anywhere at any time. First, you need to identify five things you can see around you. Next, spot four things you can feel. Then, point out three things you can hear and two things you can smell. Lastly, identify one thing you can taste in your environment.This exercise stimulates all your senses, which helps bring you back to the present. As you connect with the physical world, all the things going on in your head. So give it a try. “Small steps, create big smiles”.