Overthinking can really hold you back in life, more than you realise. Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure to stop you from overthinking, but there are ways to slow down your thoughts. Some of the signs that you’re overthinking are when you might over analyse everything and think of every possible outcome of a situation. Sometimes, it can physically stop you from doing a task and can consume your ability to make decisions.

For many of us, we live with it every day, for others it only affects us in certain aspects of life.

Below, are just a few of the ways that we can try to calm our thoughts down and reduce overthinking. Be aware of when you’re about to overthink and then follow these simple steps.

Stop asking yourself ‘what if?’

This is one of life’s great questions. What if? What if I stay in, instead of going out? What if I got the time wrong for the train? What if I drink coffee instead of water?

You get the point… it can go on and on and on. But, have you thought about what if you didn’t?

What if you didn’t go out with friends? You might have missed out on a great night. What if you didn’t get the time wrong for the train? You wouldn’t have to wait for the next one but even if you did, would it be the end of the world?

If we lived our lives analysing every tiny detail, we would never do anything. So, instead of thinking about potential negative outcomes that may never happen, think of the positive.

Distractions

We all get distracted at times, whether that’s from work, watching TV or getting ready. But, when your thoughts are invading you, it’s good to have a positive distraction. So, why not make it a useful one?

There are many things that people find very therapeutic such as walking, arts and crafts, going to the gym, tidying and cleaning, cooking/baking and many, many more. As we live in Britain, getting outdoors might not always be practical but you could try tidying and organising your room. Sometimes, giving your room a new look or just a simple tidy and clean can make you feel so much more relaxed.

Work on a project, maybe a photo album of your favourite people, places, days out or movies would relax your thoughts. Plus, it is reminding you of all the things you love which will have a positive impact on your mental health. We all feel good when we give others something to make them happy, so why not try cooking for a loved one or baking them a cake? Thinking about others can also take your mind off things, allowing you to focus on making someone else feel good.

In five years’ time, will it really matter? Or even next year for that case.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase ‘don’t make a mountain out a molehill’ before? We must ask ourselves, am I making it out to be worse than it is? Think about the bigger picture and put your thoughts in perspective.

The next time you ‘hear’ yourself overthinking, just stop for ten seconds. Ask yourself, in five years’ time will this really matter to me? Is it important in the bigger picture?

If the answer is no, then stop your thoughts in their tracks and move on to the task at hand.

Remember, you’re in charge

Sometimes your brain will need reminding that you are the boss. We all know what it can be like arguing with your thoughts, but you need to tell that annoying, nagging voice that you are in control and put it back in its place. The sooner and more often you start to do this the better.

These are only a few ways that you can try to calm your thoughts down, but we hope you found them useful.

If you are needing help finding Sheffield student accommodation, please contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.