Do you think too much? Or too little?

When you have to make decisions, especially critical ones, most of us take time to research all the options so we can make the best decision, which is normal. But what if you spend too much time considering your choices so that you overthink things and end up unable to make any decision at all?

This type of overthinking can happen even with relatively minor decisions, such as which kettle to purchase or what sandwich to buy for lunch. And when it comes to more important decisions, for example, whether to buy a house or accept a job offer, you may worry that you are making the wrong decision, even after you've carefully considered all the advantages and disadvantages.

You may find that you're trapped in a thought pattern of potential outcomes and fail to make any decision. Trapped in an endless cycle of "what if this, what if that" scenarios, you eventually become so overwhelmed that the result is that you fail to make any decision.

Why do we overthink things?

If you find yourself struggling to make decisions, it can help if you understand why.

Maybe it's because your previous choice didn't work out well. So you don't trust yourself to make the right decision this time.

Perhaps you worry that making the wrong decision will have a negative impact on others. Or maybe you think that others will judge you for making a particular decision. Of course, many people find decision-making challenging at times. But if you find yourself overthinking almost every decision, large or small, try to break the pattern.

Start small by making quick decisions about inconsequential things. Instead of wasting an hour browsing Netflix to find something to watch, pick the first show that grabs you. Go for a walk without planning your route. Grab a new brand of cereal without thinking about it.

You may feel anxious about doing this at first. But making quick decisions without giving yourself time to weigh up the alternatives can help you to be more decisive when it comes to making big-ticket choices.

Bach Flowers Mix 44 can help you be more self-confident in your decision-making and believe in yourself more.

It's taking action that allows us to move forward, so most of the time, we should prioritise this. You won't progress in life without getting results, and decisive action will create results for you.

Or maybe you don't think enough?

Impulsivity is when you don't think about the potential consequences of your actions. And the results can be disastrous.

Young kids often act rashly, upsetting their playmates or even putting themselves in danger. But adults can also be overimpulsive, and this trait can undermine their careers, their relationships and even their health.

People with impulsive personalities are prone to act quickly without thinking about the consequences. They are risk-takers, making quick decisions and saying things on the spur of the moment that they may later come to regret. However, they don't always come over as wild or thoughtless because this tendency is often masked by good social skills.

Individuals with impulsivity issues may seem to cope in many ways, including holding down a job and having a busy social life. Their ability to make decisions quickly, as long as the end result works out, can make them seem exciting, bold, and unconventional. And some may be very successful in their careers. However, their impulsivity may well be creating chaos in some areas of their life, perhaps in their relationships, financial affairs, or substance misuse.

Bach Flowers Mix 48 helps with impulsivity by supporting you to be more organised, less distracted and less inclined to act without thinking things through.

Striking a balance

So how do you know precisely when you're overthinking? Luckily, there's a simple way of balancing over- and under- thinking so you can optimise your decision-making by mastering your thought processes.

Thinking should be understood as a tool that helps you take action.

You can break thinking down into two aspects:

• Analysis to understand things better
• Planning to maximise the efficiency of your actions

The rule is to balance things out and make sure you're not jumping into action too quickly or pondering the various options for too long.

Think about the problem for as long as it helps you determine the best course of action. Then, once you're happy with the plan, stop thinking. Now is the time to act.

Once you've decided on your course of action, you always have the option of going back and reanalysing or changing your plan as you gather more information. And optimising as you gain further insight is a more efficient method to get things done anyway.

It's all about getting the balance right. So do your research, anticipate whatever you can, then make your decision and get out there!

Sources:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-overthinking-a-mental-illness/

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-impulsivity#:~:text=Impulsivity%20is%20the%20tendency%20to,necessarily%20a%20sign%20of%20trouble

Other articles

Letting go of the past: 5 tips

Lynn Anderson told it very nicely in her song “I beg your pardon; I never promised you a rose garden”. Life isn’t all roses and everybody experiences something they would rather not once in their life.

Are you stuck in a rut?

Sometimes it’s hard to notice when we've become trapped in familiar routines. Take our quiz to find out if you’re stuck in a rut and what you can do about it.

Is your sex life putting your relationship at risk?

Sexual desire is a complex interaction of hormones, emotions and well-being. When your partner is not as interested in sex as you are, it’s rarely a rejection of you as a person. So it’s essential to be as empathetic as you can regarding your differing libidos.

Mistakes as a Parent

Can we learn from our mistakes and develop a stronger, healthier emotional bondwith our kids? To help you identify your weak spots, we’ve rounded up some of the most common mistakes parents make.

10 Tips to get the best out of every day

When we’re stuck in a bit of a rut, the days and nights slip past so quickly that we barely notice them. But life is not a rehearsal!

Do you 'Musturbate' too much?

Do you suffer from a disorder known as "musturbation"? This term was first coined in the 1950s by psychotherapist Albert Ellis and described the way a negative inner voice rules our minds and bludgeons us with words such as "must", "should", and "ought".

Did you get stuck in the past?

Do you find yourself often thinking about your past? Do you wish you could turn back the clock to days gone by or things as they were before covid disrupted the world?

Is it OCD? Find out!

While you often hear people joking that they have OCD because they like to keep their house clean and tidy, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be a distressing and debilitating mental health condition with a wide range of symptoms.

Find out if you're suffering from imposter syndrome

Do you sometimes feel your achievements are not the result of your hard work and skill but are just luck? And do you fear that one day, someone will reveal you as an imposter or fraud? You might have imposter syndrome!

How to prove your value

Feel like everyone takes you for granted? Whether it's working late to prepare a presentation or cooking a special birthday meal for your partner, it's nice to be appreciated when you've made an extra effort. And if it seems as if people don't notice, you might feel as if no one values you.