The Art of Overthinking

Dear Reader,

Art is vast. It is layered, expressive, and deeply human. In one way or another, every person is an artist, whether through words, movement, ideas, or the quiet creativity of problem-solving.

I take pride in being artistically inclined. I can write. I can draw. I can colour and paint. I can sing. But the craft I’ve practiced most consistently, the one I’ve truly mastered, is the art of creating problems that don’t exist.

In other words: overthinking.

I, like nearly 70% of adults, am a chronic overthinker. At this point, there should be a certificate for it.

Overthinking is a peculiar form of creativity. It takes neutral situations and paints them in dramatic tones. It rewrites conversations that already happened, predicts outcomes that haven’t arrived, and assigns meaning where none was ever intended. It convinces us we’re being productive, self-aware, or prepared, when in reality, we’re caught in a loop of mental noise.

If you’re an overthinker, then, huzzah! You’re an artist.

Worrying is like paying a debt you don't owe. -Mark Twain

Overthinking is often a sign of a highly imaginative mind paired with anxiety, perfectionism, and a deep desire for control. Psychological research on rumination (the tendency to repeatedly think about the same thoughts) shows that individuals with higher levels of perfectionism are significantly more likely to engage in repetitive negative thinking and worry.

Neuroscience adds another layer.

Brain imaging studies reveal that self-reflective networks, particularly the default mode network, tend to stay active longer in people prone to overthinking. This keeps thoughts looping long after the original trigger has passed.

In other words, the same neural pathways that support imagination, creativity, and introspection can also sustain cycles of over analysis.

Simply put: overthinkers’ brains don’t have an easy off button.

The part of the brain responsible for imagining possibilities and reflecting on the self stays switched on, causing thoughts to replay and spiral.

Ironically, the very mental system that fuels creativity also keeps overthinking alive.

According to large population surveys, over 70% of adults aged 25–35 report frequent overthinking, making it less of a personal flaw and more of a shared human experience.

Before we explore how to work with overthinking creatively, or calm it down, here are five random but fascinating facts about overthinkers that shed light on the psychology and neuroscience behind this cognitive style:

1. Overthinkers have exceptional pattern-recognition skills

Your brain is constantly connecting dots.

Psychologists link overthinking to heightened pattern detection, which is why overthinkers often excel in strategy, storytelling, design, and problem-solving. The downside? Your brain doesn’t always know when to stop connecting those dots.

2. Your brain burns more energy than you realize

Thinking is metabolically expensive. The brain uses about 20% of the body’s energy, and people who overthink often experience increased mental fatigue. That feeling of being exhausted after “doing nothing”? That’s cognitive overexertion.

3. Overthinkers are highly creative

The same mental loops that amplify worry also refine bold ideas, powerful stories, and imaginative visions. The difference between suffering and creating often lies in where those thoughts are directed.

4. Overthinkers tend to be perfectionists

Overthinking is frequently driven by the fear of making the wrong choice. This leads to excessive evaluation, revisiting decisions, messages, and actions just one more time.

5. Overthinkers are deeply empathetic

Replaying conversations and analysing tone, pauses, and wording creates a heightened awareness of others’ emotions. This makes overthinkers thoughtful, sensitive, and emotionally intelligent, but also prone to emotional overload.

When you really think about it, overthinking isn’t a flaw, it’s a cognitive style.

The goal, then, isn’t to stop overthinking altogether, but to learn how to redirect it, so it serves clarity instead of self-sabotage.

Three Ways to Use Overthinking for Good

1. Separate Intuition from Anxiety

Overthinkers often say, “I’m just following my gut,” when in reality, they’re following fear dressed as foresight.

Neuroscience draws a clear distinction.

Intuition tends to appear quickly and calmly, without emotional urgency. Anxiety, driven by the brain’s threat detector (the amygdala), is loud, repetitive, and focused on worst-case scenarios.

For example, when considering a new opportunity:

Intuition sounds like: “This feels aligned, even though it’s unfamiliar.”

Anxiety sounds like: “What if I fail? What if I regret this forever?”

Research shows anxious thoughts feel urgent and cyclical, while intuitive ones feel clear.

Learning to ask, “Does this feel panicked or clear?” turns overthinking into discernment.

2. Use Pattern Recognition Intentionally

Overthinkers naturally notice emotional shifts, behavioural cues, inconsistencies, and trends. Studies show people prone to rumination often have heightened sensitivity to detail and context, making them strong planners, writers, and strategists.

The problem arises when pattern recognition turns inward without direction.

Unintentional use: Replaying a conversation for hours, analysing tone and facial expressions that may mean nothing.

Intentional use: Noticing which interactions drain your energy, or which tasks trigger anxiety—and adjusting accordingly.

When patterns are externalized, through journaling or objective observation, the brain shifts from rumination into problem-solving mode.

Your mind is excellent at collecting data. Just make sure it’s working on useful data.

3. Practice “Good Enough” Thinking

Perfectionism is one of overthinking’s favourite disguises. Psychologists define it as the belief that anything less than perfect equals failure.

But research on decision-making shows that choosing an option that’s “good enough" a concept known as satisficing leads to higher satisfaction and less regret than endlessly searching for the best possible choice.

You spend hours crafting the “perfect” reply to a message.

Good-enough thinking says: “This response is kind, clear, and honest. I’ll send it.”

This reduces mental fatigue and retrains the brain to associate decisions with relief rather than threat.

A helpful rule many overthinkers adopt: If a decision is 70–80% right, it’s ready.

Progress beats perfection, especially for a mind that already works overtime.

If you’re an overthinker, you don’t need to be fixed. You need to understand how your mind works.

Stop fighting your thoughts and start working with them. The next time your mind spirals, pause. Name whether you’re hearing intuition or anxiety. Choose one pattern worth paying attention to. Make one decision that’s simply good enough.

And if this resonated, take it a step further—write it down, share it with someone who needs it (your friend who keeps over analysing everyone's moves) or follow along for more reflections on creativity, mental health, self-awareness, and learning how to think deeply without drowning in thought.

Awareness is the first act of self-mastery.

Love,

Me <3

P.S.: It gets better, always.