Are you an overthinker?
Some people say it’s a blessing to be a thinker when they’re solving problems. But they also say that it can seriously affect their personal wellbeing.
I know, because at times I’ve certainly been guilty of overthinking even minor worries.
The worse is when you’re thinking without even realizing it!
But it’s not all bad.
Here are 8 signs you might be an overthinker, even if you don’t think so.
1) You find meaning in everything
Someone you like takes 6 hours to reply and you can’t stop wondering why.
Somebody makes eye contact with you at the subway and you spend 5 minutes analyzing it.
You criticized someone at work, but now you can’t stop thinking if it really was the best approach to take.
What does all this mean?
You’re an overthinker and you want to find meaning in everything.
It’s a little hard for you to just let things be. There’s always reason for something, right?
2) You think more than you do
Find it hard to make a decision? Can’t stop thinking about the choices at your disposal and the best action to take?
You might be suffering from analysis paralysis.
This cycle can continue so long that you end up doing nothing.
For me, I’ve learned to just take one option and stick with it. It takes practice but it can help to learn to never look back.
3) You get excited when you solve a problem
Maybe you’ve had a theory about someone liking you for weeks, then suddenly they do something that confirms that theory and you’re excited beyond the moon.
Or you’ve been working on a complex problem at work and then a simple solution hits you out of nowhere.
These are the moments an overthinker relishes. It’s why they think so much in the first place!
4) You can’t just let go things go
You can’t just let things be for what they are. There must be a reason everything. Then you attach yourself to finding out what that reason is and you don’t want to fail.
There must be a solution for everything in your eyes.
Even if you sometimes think you’ve let it go, the cycle somehow reappears and you’re back to thinking about it again.
The more you think about something, the more it starts to get on your nerves.
5) You’re always seeking new information
Whenever you even get an ounce of information about something, you want to learn more about it.
You’re an avid reader and your juices start flowing when you learn something new.
New information feeds your overactive mind and you’re always curious about how the world works.
6) You hate small-talk
The weather? What did I have for lunch? Please.
There’s so many more interesting things you’d rather be talking about.
You don’t care about how someone’s day was. You want to know why they do what they do. What’s their purpose in life? It’s deep conversations like this that keeps your mind satisfied.
7) You constantly analyze people
People are what make life interesting. You’re always wondering what someone’s life is like and why they treat people the way they do.
Public places can be both fascinating and overwhelming for you. Nobody walks by just for the sake of walking by!
Their walk already reveals so much about their personality.
8) You enjoy activities that calm your mind
Let’s be honest, overthinking can be tiring at the best of times.
Exercise. Writing. Long walks. Meditation. You enjoy these things because you finally get some peace from your overactive mind.
When you’re overthinking, you find it difficult to just relax, so these activities get you focused on doing rather than thinking. After all, all overthinkers need a much deserved break.