Avoiding Overthinking at Work

18 January 2023

It doesn't matter if you are a new or old employee, stress and overthinking always happen. Such feelings can cause you to overthink your work and your relationship with your team. Unfortunately this is not so positive impact.

In many cases, rather than helping, overthinking does more bad for you and your teamwork. Because your mind will be full of fears and negative images. Therefore, it's important for you to be able to avoid overthinking.

How to Avoid Overthinking

Research shows that overthinking can affect your overall health. Not only the mind, but also mentally and physically. Some people who are full of negative thoughts and Overthinking can experience stomach problems and headaches.

Even for the long term the possibility of depression and panic is also high. Therefore, it's important for you to avoid stress, negative thoughts, and overthinking. To overcome this, pay attention to the following methods:

1. Watch your thoughts

Instead of dwelling on things that have already happened or will happen tomorrow, focus your thoughts and feelings on the current situation. Try to be mindfulness, namely thoughts and situations that require you to stay focused on current events.

To achieve this you must calm down, slow down, and become more aware of your surroundings. Take a few moments to calm your mind. For example, by walking and standing in the sun. After doing this you will calm down again.

2. Focus on what you can do

When stressed focus on something you can do. For example, a big project causes you stress and overthinking. The way you can do this is to give deadlines for small jobs for the benefit of the project. By doing this, you won't be overwhelmed because the task is done.

3. Start the day with positive activities

How you start your day greatly influences how you feel and think throughout the day. Therefore, always try to start the day with positive activities. For example, wake up earlier, so that the body is fresher and not in a hurry, eat a nutritious breakfast, and watch something that makes you happy. When starting the day with positive and healthy activities like that, the chances of avoiding stress and overthinking will be higher.

4. Reflect

Without thinking too much, reflecting can help you understand the problem more deeply. Set aside about 20 minutes each day to allow yourself to think about all the things that are bothering you. During that time you may find inspiration and several ways to solve the problem you are experiencing.

5. Trying to forgive and forget

Nobody is perfect. In life, there are bound to be mistakes made. When you make a mistake, you should sincerely apologize, and make sure that you don't do the same thing again.

Admitting mistakes is one proof of responsibility. Although, fearful of the response, remember that other people make mistakes and may be more forgiving than you think.

6. Overcome negative thoughts

Let's say you are late submitting assignments, the nature of overthinking triggers the thought that this could cause you to lose your job. In fact, it's just a fear that you made up, and it's not necessarily going to happen.

Overthinking will always make you anxious and scared, so you can't think realistically. Instead, look at the root of the problem and look for a solution. That way, you won't repeat the same mistake.

7. Avoid perfectionism

Overthinking happens when you feel insecure. This makes you spend a lot of time thinking and correcting unnecessary mistakes. If you are in this position, remember that nobody is perfect.

Instead of spending a lot of time thinking like that, it's a good idea to divert your mind with positive activities that can improve your abilities.

8. Realize that not everything is in your control

To stay out of the way, you may want to be in control and know things. However, keep in mind that knowing a lot of things is not a good thing either. Overthinking will make you think unrealistic things. This will make you make more mistakes.

Therefore, realize that you cannot control everything. As long as you can work according to your responsibilities and expectations, then you have done the job right.

Not only within the scope of work, overthinking is normal. However, you shouldn't let those thoughts haunt you. The ability to overcome and avoid overthinking is very important for professional workers to be self-aware.

It doesn't matter if you are a new or old employee, stress and overthinking always happen. Such feelings can cause you to overthink your work and your relationship with your team. Unfortunately this is not so positive impact.

In many cases, rather than helping, overthinking does more bad for you and your teamwork. Because your mind will be full of fears and negative images. Therefore, it's important for you to be able to avoid overthinking.

How to Avoid Overthinking

Research shows that overthinking can affect your overall health. Not only the mind, but also mentally and physically. Some people who are full of negative thoughts and Overthinking can experience stomach problems and headaches.

Even for the long term the possibility of depression and panic is also high. Therefore, it's important for you to avoid stress, negative thoughts, and overthinking. To overcome this, pay attention to the following methods:

1. Watch your thoughts

Instead of dwelling on things that have already happened or will happen tomorrow, focus your thoughts and feelings on the current situation. Try to be mindfulness, namely thoughts and situations that require you to stay focused on current events.

To achieve this you must calm down, slow down, and become more aware of your surroundings. Take a few moments to calm your mind. For example, by walking and standing in the sun. After doing this you will calm down again.

2. Focus on what you can do

When stressed focus on something you can do. For example, a big project causes you stress and overthinking. The way you can do this is to give deadlines for small jobs for the benefit of the project. By doing this, you won't be overwhelmed because the task is done.

3. Start the day with positive activities

How you start your day greatly influences how you feel and think throughout the day. Therefore, always try to start the day with positive activities. For example, wake up earlier, so that the body is fresher and not in a hurry, eat a nutritious breakfast, and watch something that makes you happy. When starting the day with positive and healthy activities like that, the chances of avoiding stress and overthinking will be higher.

4. Reflect

Without thinking too much, reflecting can help you understand the problem more deeply. Set aside about 20 minutes each day to allow yourself to think about all the things that are bothering you. During that time you may find inspiration and several ways to solve the problem you are experiencing.

5. Trying to forgive and forget

Nobody is perfect. In life, there are bound to be mistakes made. When you make a mistake, you should sincerely apologize, and make sure that you don't do the same thing again.

Admitting mistakes is one proof of responsibility. Although, fearful of the response, remember that other people make mistakes and may be more forgiving than you think.

6. Overcome negative thoughts

Let's say you are late submitting assignments, the nature of overthinking triggers the thought that this could cause you to lose your job. In fact, it's just a fear that you made up, and it's not necessarily going to happen.

Overthinking will always make you anxious and scared, so you can't think realistically. Instead, look at the root of the problem and look for a solution. That way, you won't repeat the same mistake.

7. Avoid perfectionism

Overthinking happens when you feel insecure. This makes you spend a lot of time thinking and correcting unnecessary mistakes. If you are in this position, remember that nobody is perfect.

Instead of spending a lot of time thinking like that, it's a good idea to divert your mind with positive activities that can improve your abilities.

8. Realize that not everything is in your control

To stay out of the way, you may want to be in control and know things. However, keep in mind that knowing a lot of things is not a good thing either. Overthinking will make you think unrealistic things. This will make you make more mistakes.

Therefore, realize that you cannot control everything. As long as you can work according to your responsibilities and expectations, then you have done the job right.

Not only within the scope of work, overthinking is normal. However, you shouldn't let those thoughts haunt you. The ability to overcome and avoid overthinking is very important for professional workers to be self-aware.

Prasetiya Mulya Executive Learning Institute
Prasetiya Mulya Cilandak Campus, Building 2, #2203
Jl. R.A Kartini (TB. Simatupang), Cilandak Barat, Jakarta 12430
Indonesia
Prasetiya Mulya Executive Learning Institute
Prasetiya Mulya Cilandak Campus, Building 2, #2203
Jl. R.A Kartini (TB. Simatupang), Cilandak Barat,
Jakarta 12430
Indonesia