overthinking? try these 5 techniques to achieve balance

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it's easy to become overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, leading to overthinking and a sense of mental and emotional imbalance. 

Fortunately, there are methods to restore harmony to the mind and body. This blog will explore how to help reduce overthinking and promote mental and emotional balance by tapping into the body's natural healing abilities.

overthinking as a form of survival mode

Many people experience chronic stress and anxiety, leading to an overactive fight or flight response and constant hyperarousal, which shows as overthinking and an inability to relax and unwind. 

Become aware of how much time and energy you devote to being in 'fight, flight or freeze'. 

Listening to the body can help to regulate the systems and reduce the stress response, allowing us to move out of survival mode and into a state of greater calm and balance. 


Here are some tips to reduce overthinking:


1. practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a powerful tool to calm the mind and reduce overthinking. It helps us to focus on the present moment and let go of worries about the future or regrets about the past.

By bringing our attention to our breath and centre, we can calm the mind, and reduce stress, worry, procrastination and feeling stuck. 


Try this quick mindfulness exercise:

Picture yourself standing at a super busy intersection in central Tokyo.
People, cars and noise are bustling all around you.
Close your eyes and breathe.
Take your awareness down into your centre, the space between your left and right, front and back, top and bottom.
Tune into that space and be aware of knowing what you want, what you need and where you are going.
​Practice regularly to feel centred.


2. eat a healthy diet

Overthinking may cause us to crave caffeine, sugar and carbs like cakes, pasta, bread and alcohol. Comfort foods trick the body into thinking it is satisfied when it is temporarily soothing and weighing it down, creating more heaviness and burden on the body and emotions. 

If you are overthinking or feeling overwhelmed, avoid overeating, refrain from processed and refined foods and instead focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. 

Balance your gut bacteria with saurkraut, kombucha or apple cider vinegar in water. Remember, fermented foods are medicine, so you only need a small amount daily!

Give your digestion plenty of ginger, which is calming, warm and dry and lightens the digestive load. Drink chamomile tea and eat yellow and orange foods that are naturally sweet and comforting, like sweet corn, sweet potato, pumpkin and carrots, etc.


3. get enough sleep

Sleep is essential for our overall health and for regulating our survival mode response. Overactivity and overthinking can lead to stress, overwhelm, and feeling stuck, which may cause insomnia and other sleep disturbances. 

Prioritise getting enough sleep each night. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and try to be in bed, without screens, between 9-11 pm or earlier. 
Create a bedtime routine that helps you relax and unwind before bed.


4. practice gentle exercise

Gentle exercises such as walking, yoga or tai chi can be beneficial for balancing the mind and emotions. These practices help to reduce stress, improve digestion, and promote overall relaxation. Gentle exercise is also a great way to stimulate energy flow throughout the body, which can help balance the mind and body and reduce overthinking.


5. seek treatment

Acupuncture, acupressure, kinesiology and EFT tapping (emotional freedom technique) are healing practices that can help to balance the body's energy and restore health and well-being. By targeting specific points along the body's meridians, these practices can help to reduce overthinking and promote relaxation. 

If you're struggling with overthinking, consider seeing an experienced practitioner to help balance your energy meridians and improve your overall health and well-being.

Additionally, address any underlying emotional or psychological factors that contribute to overthinking. Perhaps seek support from a therapist or counsellor or practising techniques such as meditation or journaling to help manage stress and anxiety. 


Generally, reducing overthinking involves mindfulness, a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, gentle exercise, and seeking acupuncture or acupressure treatment. 
​

By taking a holistic approach to reducing overthinking, you can improve your overall health and well-being and restore balance to your body's energy systems. Always listen to your body and seek professional advice if you have concerns about your health or well-being.


Photo by Clayton Cardinalli on Unsplash


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