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During my Dementia lecture recently, Dr. Asyraf Zaher (Neurology Department, Mansoura University) gave us this one golden rule of life to heed;
The past has finished, you cannot make up for it. The future has not yet come, you cannot do anything about it either. Be in the present! Do not make your mind reach something that is away from your grasp. Excessive thinking of the past and future will result in you losing everything.
This one hit so close to home for me. I was about 13 years old when several seniors of mine pointed out that I acted fairly mature for my age. I worried over my future-self and think way too much that I had my whole life planned onto a piece of paper when I was 15 years old and eventually, I stressed myself out too often when some of the plans did not work out.
Is it inevitable for a person to think too much about their past and future?
I cannot say that I have educated myself on this matter because I still overthink things from time to time. But I would like to share some of the habits I attempted on daily basis to become a smarter thinker, to live happier and sleep better at night.
- Accept that you are thinking too much.
Based on the psychiatric lessons I have learned, being in denial would not be of help. I am not saying that thinking is bad because just like eating, thinking is something that we need to do to survive. However, there are several red flags indicating that we are doing too much thinking for our own good.
Are you consumed by the same thought over and over again? Are you not making progress by thinking about this particular thing? Have you analysed the same situation from a million angles? If so, this may be a sign that you should move on.
- Indulge yourself with exercise.
This might sound a tad bit odd for some, but I enrolled in gym classes three times per week just so that I could let go of my thoughts and be able to focus more on my body, aside from wanting to lead a healthy lifestyle, of course. Running and lifting weights can really help you take your mind off of all those annoying thoughts you have on your mind. And if that seems like too much work for you, just go outside. Being out in the sun will make you happier, healthier, and less likely to brood.
- Make a practical list of the things that are troubling you.
Whether writing on paper or a computer, you should first define the problem that troubles you. I usually write down my options, and then list the pros and cons for each option. Seeing my thoughts in front of me help me to realize that I do overthink things. This will also help you stop cycling through them in your head. Once you cannot think of anything more to write, your mind has done its job, and it is time to stop thinking!
Or perhaps, have a to-do list. I usually make a list of all the things I have to do on a certain day and work my way from that. Unless “brooding” is on your list of priorities, this will force you to see that you have more important things to do than to sit around pondering the meaning of the universe! The quickest way to organize your thoughts is to put them into something actionable. If you are thinking that you have not gotten enough sleep lately, make a plan for getting some Z’s pronto, instead of worrying about it!
- Socializing.
Surround yourself with people you love, will keep you talking more and thinking less. I take this as a source of distraction. Make sure to get out of the house at least a few times a week, to get a fresh air. You will be much more prone to thinking if you spend a lot of time by yourself.
- Read and laugh more often.
By all means, I find reading to be the best remedy of all since I would be focusing on the thoughts of other people rather than thinking about myself too much. And reading books can also not make you want to do anything except for escape to a new world, which is also nice.
On gloomy days, I opted to watch a comedy or a TV show with a funny cast that I really like or some funny YouTube videos. Do whatever you have to do to make yourself crack up and not care about all of the things that are on your mind. Do not underestimate the importance of the role of laughter plays in your mental health.
A little side notes, just focus on what is in front of us, instead of flying off to the past or ‘Tomorrowland’ for long periods of time. We can just stay present and let the right actions naturally arise. Let go of all that thinking that can cripple us and have trust in our capabilities. We should do just fine.
Editor’s Note: If you have problems with anxiety that are severe enough to affect your daily life, do seek professional help from your doctor.
Nuha Muneerah is a 5th year medical student in Mansoura – Manchester Medical Program, Mansoura University, Egypt. Learn about her and other YCP members under the Team page.