If You Overthink, You're Going Be Smart (if you change this one thing)

Hi Friend

If you’re anything like me, overthinking is the most consistent thing you achieve.

You put in the reps every single day and rarely miss out. Your streak is hotter than young kids on Snapchat.

This is a good thing. You must be thinking I’ve finally lost it. Let me explain.

Overthinking is more common than you think. I don’t have statistics to back this. I just know because I talk to a lot of people 🤷‍♂️

If you manage it well, the chances of being anxious are minimal. If not, you’re going to feel unnerved regularly.

Being anxious is not fun. It:

• paralyses your thought process

• confuses your priorities

• induces procrastination

These 3 combined send your day for a toss but you conclude the day saying “I wish I had more time to do all things”.

Let’s take using your phone as an example:

1. You scroll Instagram.

2. You see your friends story on a TV show. You want to watch something because of it - trigger 1

3. You continue scrolling. You see your friends at a concert. You now have the urge to go outside and party/ go to a gig. - Trigger 2

4. This activity continues and you have further triggers

2 hours later (lol) you now:

• Feel heavy and anxious

• Start wondering when you’re going to do all these things

• Wish when you have time

Unfortunately this is where overthinking is a problem, our use of social media compounds it and we feel like we have zero time management.

Fortunately there is just one question to solve the confusion here.

Asking yourself “Why”

Yes. While everyone is out there searching for time management hacks, the first thing you need to do is ask yourself “why”.

We’re doing things because others are doing it (for the most). So next time you want to do something ask ‘why’

You want to buy something - ask ‘why’
You want to argue with someone on social media - ask ‘why’ (this one is a time suck of most people on the internet - been there)
You feel guilty doing something relaxing - ask ‘why’

If the answers to any of these are because ‘someone else is doing it’ you know where you’re going wrong.

How does this save time?

To begin with, a clear mind aids good decision making - you’re going to prioritise better - time saver!

You spend less time mindlessly procrastinating and arguing - time saver!

The more you ask yourself ‘why’, the better you become at understanding your thoughts (making overthinking seem less of a pain) and reduce anxiousness.

It comes with time (ironically) but you can’t go wrong with it.

Time Management isn’t just about tips and tracks. In fact, those come later.

Philosophers were, after all, the first people to talk about time management. Not business consultants.

That’s also why my Time Management Product (launching April 2nd) will be slightly non-traditional.

We’ve got a few things wrong. I’ve learned the hard way so let me share 😉😉

That's all for today

Until the next one

Cheers, Rainar