4 reasons why thinking about it too much wears us down

The ability to reason and plan is one of the great gifts that nature has given us, but we must bear in mind that rationality is a double-edged sword.

If the emotions they can cause us to jump into highly risky projects where there is little or nothing to be gained, reason can keep us anchored in place; Ultimately, it gives us an excuse to stay in our comfort zone and not only not progress, but also create problems that did not exist before.

Ruminating and obsessing over an idea or topic It's as counterproductive as it is frustrating, but that doesn't make us "disengage" from that habit when there is something that captures our mind's attention over and over again, be it something that worries us (such as having made a bad first impression on someone) or the uncertainty of something that awaits us in the future (such as the results of medical tests).

Of course, there are issues that deserve a good part of our attention, but in those cases everything that is not guide our thoughts to resolve that situation effectively

it will lead us to lose the battle of stress and badly invested time. Ruminating all the time with a thought about a problem without a solution or about something that does not depend on us, normally, it takes more from us than it gives us.

• You may be interested in: "The 12 types of obsessions (symptoms and characteristics)"

Why obsessing over something weakens us psychologically

These are some extra reasons why you should consider stopping thinking about the same thing all the time and accept problems easily and constructive attitude.

1. It's an emotional alibi

In many cases, we become obsessed with something that, despite the fact that we could find a solution, finding it seems very complicated. In these cases, thinking about it all the time acts as an alibi for ourselves; it gives us the feeling that we are doing something to move in the direction of that goal without actually doing anything that actually increases our chances of success.

Wallow in catastrophic thoughts, for example, is not taking stock of risks, just as fantasizing about success all the time is not a way to motivate yourself. It simply makes us more obsessive and, therefore, less capable of responding appropriately to the demands of the environment. That is why it is necessary to analyze our own thoughts and feelings to remove any habit that smacks of an excuse for not taking risks and reasonable amounts of effort and stress.

2. Limit our productivity

Definitely, overthinking it is a way to procrastinate, to leave everything "for tomorrow" (indefinitely). When the moment comes when we are forced to react, our mind has to deal with a lot of challenges that come at once, and it acts in a disorganized way; not even people noticeably smart They get out of situations like this.

• Related article: "Procrastination or the "I'll do it tomorrow" syndrome: what it is and how to prevent it"

3. worsens our mental health

The rumination, which in theory seems comfortable, by postponing responsibilities in exchange for spending time thinking obsessively about something, does nothing more than generate a problem of rushing and stress in the medium term. This vicious circle of reasons to worry about impediments that are coming our way makes our anxiety levels rise, which increases the chances of having a crisis related to a mental disorder. The relationship between the tendency to overthink things and the possibility of developing mental problems has been verified.

4. Causes sleep problems

As a consequence of the above, rumination and obsessions that distract us leave a devastating mark on our habits when it comes to eating. sleep, which in turn causes many other problems related to lack of rest, distractions, fatigue and problems with memory. Not only does it make us sleep fewer hours, but also, according to studies, the quality of our sleep is lower, and we spend fewer minutes in the deepest phase of it.

Tips to not think about it too much and move from concern to action

If you are interested in breaking the vicious circle of rumination, here are some guidelines that you can follow:

1. Create target lists

Prioritize what you really want to do over the rest, to be clear where you should direct your actions.

2. Organize a calendar of mints

Break your goals into smaller sub-goals, preferably daily, so as not to have the feeling that it is something unattainable (something that would encourage rumination).

3. follow schedules

Make commitments when it comes to following strict schedules. Every time you don't comply, leave money in a piggy bank whose contents someone else will enjoy. In this way you will try to avoid possible immediate loss.