The Art of Overthinking..

A Pro Overthinker’s Guide to Thinking Less

I’ll admit it—I’ve been overthinking this blog post about overthinking. The irony isn’t lost on me. I missed a few weeks because I kept convincing myself it wasn’t good enough, and suddenly, time flew by at an alarming rate. But let’s be real—what are we actually doing in this world? I think everyone in their 20s, at some point, sits in a spiral of existential confusion, wondering if they’re on the right path. And the truth? There is no right path. The best we can do is write down the things we’d like to do and go from there. Trial and error. A little bit of blind optimism. And an acceptance that we will, at some point, overthink it all.

Overthinking is like that one overly chatty neighbor who always “just stops by for a minute” but somehow stays for hours, sitting in your living room, talking about their cousin’s dog’s allergy medication while you contemplate your life choices. You know they’ll leave eventually, but in the meantime, you’re stuck nodding along, unable to escape. That’s exactly how overthinking works—it lingers way past its welcome, filling your mind with unnecessary noise. “Remember that time you waved at someone who wasn’t waving at you?” Yes, Brain. I do. Thank you. But here’s the thing: that little voice that tells you you’re not doing enough, that you’re not good enough? It’s lying. We are all just figuring it out, one overanalyzed thought at a time. A lot of my friends are going through the same thing, and we lean on each other for support. But if you don’t have anyone to lean on, I’m here to tell you—you are enough. Period.

It’s wild how much time we spend worrying about what people think. Like, let’s say you have a weird little hobby. Maybe you’re really into collecting those tiny hotel shampoos, or you have an alarming amount of knowledge about 18th-century wallpaper. Who cares? If you love it, do it. The truth is, no one is thinking about you as much as you think they are. Everyone is too busy overanalyzing their own life to worry about yours. And even if someone does have an opinion? So what? You can’t live your life waiting for a round of applause from people who don’t even know what they want for dinner.

So how do you stop overthinking and just be? First, recognize when you’re spiraling. The moment you start rehashing the same thought for the tenth time, shut it down—literally. Say “nope” out loud if you have to. Distract yourself, go for a walk, call a friend, eat a snack. Second, stop asking for unnecessary opinions. The more people you consult about a decision, the harder it gets. Make a choice and stick to it. Third, embrace the cringe. You will embarrass yourself. You will make weird choices. You will have regrets. But you will survive. And lastly? Just do the thing. Whatever it is you’re overthinking—posting the video, wearing the outfit, signing up for the class—just do it. The fastest way to get out of your head is to take action before your brain talks you out of it.

At some point, we have to stop letting overthinking steal our joy. The first step? Realizing that most things are not that deep. No one remembers that awkward thing you said three years ago. That cringe thing you love doing? Own it. That embarrassing hobby? Turn it into a personality trait. The faster you stop worrying about what others think, the faster you can start living for yourself.

So from one pro overthinker to another, here’s my advice: Think a little less. Laugh at yourself a little more. And if you find yourself spiraling over whether to order fettuccine or penne, just get both. You deserve it.

Xoxo,

Victoria S