What decades of overthinking taught me about doing the work
I’ve been overthinking for nearly five decades.
I wish I was exaggerating.
I’ve overthought what to wear, how to word an email, whether that text sounded weird, if people liked the workshop, and whether I’m supposed to bring a gift to the barbecue.
They probably already have tongs. But then again, who couldn’t use more?
Maybe I should bring hot sauce instead?
What I inadvertently got good at was deep thinking, but I was applying it to really terrible questions.
“What if everyone hates it?”
“What if the worst happens?”
“How can I be 100% sure?”
Spoiler: these aren’t great uses of a busy brain.
What’s happening here?
Overthinking, sure. What do I mean by that though?
Overthinking is…
Not making forward progress
Wasting time
Unclear communication
Taking way longer than a thing deserves
Busy-making disguised as productivity
And it looks like:
Obsessively rechecking email
Getting lost in details no one will notice
Catastrophising yourself into a panic spiral
Sound familiar?
But what’s the alternative?
Expert thinking. Deep thinking. Strategic thinking.
Who cares about that?
We all do.
The world already has enough half-baked ideas, unedited thoughts, and things nobody really asked for.
When you stop overthinking and start thinking well, you get:
Crisp, clear writing
Faster replies and decisions
Focused, relevant content
More space in your brain for good stuff
Actual downtime you can enjoy
And you show up as a more grounded, useful, and creative human. Which, frankly, the world could use more of.
Not just generally. From you, specifically. Your thoughts and perspective and experiences.
So let’s get on with it.
What does better thinking look like?
Some ideas:
Effortlessly replying to things you would’ve over-laboured before
Being decisively kind — saying no when you mean no, yes when you mean yes
Using your time and energy wisely
Taking guilt-free, delicious downtime
It feels like peace. Like competence. Like clarity.
And it’s a skill, not a personality trait.
Why it matters
This isn’t just about inbox zero or productivity hacks.
For me, thinking (of any kind) ties directly to my mission:
Helping people get clearer about who they really are in this chaotic world and what they’re doing here, so that they can take meaningful steps to simplify and enjoy their lives more.
Because when you know those things, you make better decisions. You build a life and work that feels aligned. And you stop wasting your precious brain power on stuff that doesn’t matter.
The world gets better when thoughtful people channel their energy toward meaningful, worthy things.
But why this?
I’m sure there’s someone out there who specialises in underthinking, too — helping people who live in their bodies (well, we all do) more than their heads. That has its advantages too.
It’s just not my lane. I’ve spent a lifetime led by my head, so I feel qualified to speak to the overfunctioners and other busy-brained souls. And from that, this I know:
Your busy brain isn’t a problem to be fixed
Overthinking isn’t inherently a flaw, error, or defecit.
It’s a skill pointed in the wrong direction.
With practice, you can turn it into expert thinking. The kind that’s clear, useful, and makes space for a calmer, more meaningful life.
Curious to see what that’s like? Get started with a free, 30-minute conversation to see if we fit:
