There are moments where my tendency to overthink has been of benefit, we’ve got ahead of a few things at work which may have caused issues, and been a bit more prepared as a result.
Often though, overthinking is more of a hindrance. It stops me giving things a go because all i end up focusing on is the reasons why something won’t work, or can’t be used, or will shortly end up obsolete. In this guise, overthinking is a barrier to getting things done.
I do not generally do any sort of new years resolutions, but this year I’m going to make one, to try to think less. I will clarify what I mean as that’s a bad headline otherwise!
I’ll try to prevent my overthinking stopping me from completing projects that I believe in. I think that’s a better way to put it.
My approach: stop treating ‘done’ as a final state. Nothing is ever final, everything can be improved later.
Of course I do already know this, but sometimes the temptation to try to achieve perfection first time is too strong, this is what I have to get over in 2026.
I’ll add that I’ve never done anything that I consider perfect, which means that anything I’ve ever started I’ve never actually considered finished.