Why I’m glad that I’m an ‘overthinker’

The benefit of being an overthinker is that we become natural observers, are able to understand the atmosphere of a room, watch people's micro-movements, listen to their language and tone. We can consider a question from various angles in a short time.

This puts us at an advantage as we can anticipate problems. We often know what is going on with people before they are ready to articulate it.

Overthinkers have to be very careful to have boundaries and time off because they are more inclined to burnout. They also have to be careful not to do other people's thinking/ memory storage for them.

Uncontrolled overthinking can cause anxiety. There is a difference between ruminating on something without looking for a resolution and turning something over in your mind to learn something valuable from it.

Overthinking can be very enriching, but stressful situations can send the overthinker into overdrive.

Tips to help bring back focus:

1. Yoga can help quieten the mind.
2. Challenge your brain in a soft-focus way, such as counting back in threes from 100.
3. Repetitive tasks are relaxing, such as running, knitting, sewing, or rhythmic music.
4. If you feel overwhelmed, concentrate on the next five minutes. "What do I need right now? What can I see?"
5. Find something safe that needs minimal planning to help release adrenaline.