Accept The Possibility That You're Thinking Too Much

Thinking is just like eating in the fact that they both are necessary, but we have a hard time deciding how much is enough. 

So here are some red flags to let you know you might me thinking too much. 

• Are you consumed by the same thought over and over again, and not making progress because of it? 
• Have you analyzed the same situation from a million angles before deciding how to act?
• Have you solicited the help of twenty of your friends to get their opinion on the situation? 
• Are people telling you that you are over thinking and acting like a philosopher?

These might be signs that you are thinking way to much.

Say Your Ideas Out Loud

Sometimes it helps to just get the ideas out of your head, One way is to simply state your thoughts out loud. 

Even if you have to talk to yourself, start speaking your thoughts so you can hear them. Once you do that, you begin the process of letting go. 

They go from your head out into the light of the real world. The process of vocalizing them can help bring some clarity. 

Don't worry if other people look at you funny because your talking to yourself. As long as you know you are not crazy, that's all that matters. 

Make A List Of Things On Your Mind

Another way to clear your mind is to make a practical list of the things your contemplating. 

It doesn't matter if the list is written or on the computer. 

The important thing is that you first define your problem, write down your options, and list the pros and cons of each option. 

Seeing your thoughts written down helps you from cycling them in your mind. Once this exercise is done, your mind may think it's job is done. 

Then you can free up that thinking space for something else. 

Keep A Diary

If you want to take a less intense route to quit over thinking, you may want to try keeping a diary of the things you are thinking about. 

Even doing that a couple times a week will allow you to unload your mind more frequently. 

Then take some time at the end of the week to read over what you've written. It may relieve you from thinking that everything has to be solved in one day. 

Start Using A To-Do List 

One of the biggest detriments to thinking to much is that action gets put on the back burner. 

Start using a to-do list, and put on the list action items that you can do that day to handle some of the issues you've been thinking about. 

This will get you out of the purely thinking mode. Taking real action forces you to organize your thoughts and put them into something actionable. 

If you prioritize your list, you will be working on the most import things first. 

Designate Some Time For Thinking

Although I am not an advocate of thinking too much, I do advocate setting a designated time to sit down and give some thought to the things that are important to you. 

Set aside some time everyday to get into deep thought. You may want to carve out an hour each day for this. 

After your thinking time, you may want to take a pad of paper and jot down things you don't have time to think about at the moment. 

That list can be dealt with during your scheduled thinking time. 

Solve As Many Problems As You Can

The ultimate objective is get some problems solved. Thinking can contribute to that solution but nothing happens without action. 

Take all the steps you can to bring as many solution to the table that you can, and take the necessary action to get them solved. 

Get into the problem solving business instead of the thinking and thinking business. Make sure your thinking lead to action. 

Ask For Advice

It may turn out that two heads are better than one. In that case, ask a trusted friend or co-worker for their advise. 

They may be able to offer you another perspective that you just can't see. 

They may even be able to tell when you are just thinking too much. 

Get help when you can. 

"How Your Mind Works"

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