Have you ever found yourself staring at the menu for way too long, debating between two options without being able to choose? Or maybe you’ve rewritten an email five times but still don’t hit send? Or how about mulling over a big decision, analyzing it from every angle, and then you miss the deadline?
Welcome to the intersection of a mental traffic jam.
If you have ever felt stuck in overthinking mode, you’re definitely not alone. Your brain is designed to assess risk before taking action. But sometimes, it gets a little too cautious, leaving you trapped in a loop of endless “what ifs.”
There’s good news. though. You can rewire and replace this pattern.
Why We Overthink: The Brain’s Decision Dilemma
Your brain’s job is to keep you safe, which means it constantly scans for potential risks before making a move. This is useful when there is real danger. But when it comes to everyday decisions, like choosing between opportunities, projects, or even what to eat for dinner, your brain sometimes treats them as life-or-death choices.
✅ Your brain fears loss more than it values gain. The possibility of making the wrong choice feels more threatening than the reward of making the right one.
✅ The “What If” Loop. Your brain creates multiple hypothetical scenarios to predict the future, because it’s a predictability “machine.” But instead of bringing clarity, it can leave you overwhelmed and anxious. This can lead to second-guessing decisions in an effort to make the right choice to avoid a negative outcome.
Your brain thinks it is helping you. But in reality, overthinking burns up cognitive energy, leads to doubt, and makes it harder to take action.
When Overthinking Turns into Pressure: My Own Experience
I experience this all the time when it comes to writing content for this blog, my weekly newsletter, or LinkedIn posts. Sometimes, I’ll stare at the blank page, watching the cursor blink while my brain fires off thoughts like:
“What could I possibly share that hasn’t already been said?” “What if what I write doesn’t hit the mark?” “I could write about “this,” or I could write about “that,” but what if I make the wrong choice and it’s not helpful at all?”
I then feel stuck in a space of total frustration and second-guessing. And when this happens, I get a little stressed. And a stressed-out brain equals no clarity to make a decision. No movement, just pressure. The pressure to create. The pressure to get unstuck. The pressure to make it good. And the more I think about it, the more stuck I feel.
But when I catch myself in this loop, I remember something one of my creative writing professors said.
He told us, “Just free write. Don’t edit. Just let your thoughts and words come out on paper. Then you can go back and refine it later.”
How funny is that? I have my undergrad degree in creative writing, yet I still get stuck. But the moment I interrupt the loop by following that advice, I start to write without filtering or judging. The pressure fades. The momentum builds. And suddenly, I am no longer stuck.
How to Break Free: The 3-Step “Clarity Shortcut”
Overthinking is your brain trying to protect you from making a mistake. But the best way to gain clarity is not to think harder but instead give your brain something smaller and doable to work with. Even the smallest action can break the cycle of overthinking and create momentum.
💡 Give this a whirl: The “Clarity Shortcut”
1️. Zoom Out. Instead of obsessing over the details, ask: “What actually matters most in this decision?” or “What’s my ultimate objective?” This stops your brain from getting lost in unnecessary details.
Let’s use my analysis paralysis about writing as an example. If I zoom out and look at my objective; it’s to make a positive difference. To share something that will contribute positively to another. Connecting myself with the objective helps my brain move out of the stressed, overthinking mode.
2️. Shrink the Timeline. If you had to decide right now, what would you choose to do? When you remove the pressure of a perfect answer, your instinct kicks in.
Again, as an example, in the moment I could write one sentence. Just one to get the ball rolling.
3️. Test It. If possible, take a low-stakes action to gather real information. Instead of going in circles trying to decide which action to take, find a small way to move forward and see how it feels.
Writing just the one sentence, as I did when I started this post felt like movement. And as you can see that movement turned into an entire post.
🔬 Why this works: Your brain does not like uncertainty, but small actions reduce the unknown. Once you take a step, even a tiny one, your brain shifts from doubt, and stressed-out to forward motion.
Final Thought: Clarity Comes from Action
Overthinking does not bring clarity, taking a small action often does. I liken it to lining up dominoes. It only takes knocking over one to get the others to fall.
What is one decision you have been overthinking lately?
What is one small step you could take today to move forward?
Drop a comment and let me know. I’d love to hear how you’re breaking through analysis paralysis. Until next time, I’m sending you all loads of forward movement energy.
P.S. If you are someone who wants to break free from overthinking, build momentum, and take action using neuroscience-based strategies, you’re going to love The NeuroLab launching in May. The waitlist is open now, and early members will get access to some powerful tools that won’t be available to anyone else.
No pressure, just an invite to join the waitlist.
