4 ways to stop overthinking (and get happy)

“Overthinking leaves you drained,” says life enrichment specialist Peggy Nolan in the Huffington Post. “It robs you of your peace and poise of mind. It's mental exhaustion on the level of running a marathon every day. It's a mind-numbing habit that keeps you stuck from leading a happy, healthy life.”

Having more mental energy is like an express ticket to feeling happier, so slowing your mind is a worthy investment. Here’s how to get started. 
 

1. Walk it off
“Lace up your walking shoes and grab your iPod with your favourite uplifting playlists. Get out of your head, move your body. Swing your arms. Do a few lunges. Walk it out,” says Nolan. “Focus on each step. Pay attention to the way your foot makes contact with the pavement. Tune in to the movement of your body and not the replay of last week's argument.”

2. Choose wholesome foods
“Healthy eating — such as focusing on vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fish — may be linked to reduced anxiety,” according to the Mayo Clinic in the USA. “Avoid fried, fatty, sugary and processed foods.”

3. Take your mind to a happy place
“Train your mind through visualisation techniques,” Nolan advises. “Visualise a happy memory…  For me, my happy place is sitting in my beach chair with my toes wrapped in warm sand, a good book, and the sound of the Atlantic Ocean as waves greet the shore.”

4. Schedule ‘worry time’
Sometimes a structured approach to overthinking is called for – especially if worry is keeping you up at night. The Better Health Channel notes: “Some people with anxiety disorders are ‘worriers’, who fret about a problem rather than actively solve it.”
Rather than running a problem through your mind incessantly, break down a problem into its various components – and then decide on a course of action.

Sleep specialist Dr Stephanie Silberman author of The Insomnia Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Sleep You Need recommends writing down your worries and what you’re going to do about them, earlier in the day to avoid thinking about them when you’re trying to get to sleep.

References available on request