It’s late at night, and your mind won’t stop racing. You replay every awkward moment, worry about the future, or overanalyse a decision you made. Sound familiar? Overthinking is a common trap for teens juggling school, friends, and the pressure of “figuring it all out.” But guess what? You can hit pause and take control.
At one point in my life, overthinking seriously disturbed my peace of mind to the extent that I thought I was going to lose my mind. It was truly my nemesis at that time. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to share my story and the tips on how I overcame this challenge.
Realising that I couldn’t easily overcome overthinking, I started seeking help from close friends. I went online to find tutorials and videos on YouTube about how to put an end to it. I used to overthink and create imaginary scenarios about everything, constantly asking myself, “What would happen if…?” or “What would people think of me if I do…?” or “What if one day I…?” I would worry about things that were 99% unlikely to happen, which sometimes lowered my self-esteem. It was bad.
The first thing I tried was to avoid isolation and be more social. I stopped staying in my room all the time and instead went downstairs to start random conversations with my mom to distract myself from overthinking.
Secondly, I got myself a little diary and began journaling. Whenever I had a negative thought, I would open the book and write down what I was thinking, the likelihood of it happening, and a solution in case it did. This exercise made me realise that most of my worries were trivial— most of the things I think about are just stupid stuff. Thirdly, I took up new hobbies: going for walks, listening to my favourite playlist, doodling, or calling a friend. Activities like these help break the cycle of overthinking and give your mind a break. Although I never used to watch movies, I started watching them.
I also began cooking (yes, I know I don’t cook—don’t judge me), talking more about my overthinking, and continued journaling about my life. This helped a lot. Besides, psychology has proven that 85% of the things we worry about never happen. Overthinking can also be halted by doing small brain exercises, like counting to 15 while breathing in and out, or singing a nursery rhyme in your head. It might sound awkward, but it could help! If you’re an overthinker, one thing to keep in mind is that your mind is like a radio—some stations play good tunes, while others are just static.
Learn to change the channel when overthinking kicks in. Focus on thoughts that help you grow, not hold you back. Overthinking is normal, but it doesn’t have to take over your life.
With practice, you can quiet your mind and make space for the things that really matter. Take a deep breath—you’ve got this!
