How to Stop Overthinking Everything

4 key decision-making strategies for getting over analysis paralysis.
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⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
01:25 - The Set-Path and Experimental Outlooks
03:41 - Incomplete Information: The Poker Mindset
05:26 - Dealing with Too Much Choice
08:35 - The Regret Exercise
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[@Thomasfrank]

Hope this one helps improve your decision-making 🧠 🦙 Want to improve your problem-solving skills even further? Start learning on Brilliant: www.brilliant.org/thomasfrank 📱 Did you know I also have a Notion tutorial channel? kzbin.info 🖊 Quote of the week: "Find ways of staying curious and learning new things, because it's super sad to think your last day of college is the last day you are taught something new." - Kevin Systrom

[@danieldey]

Dude, this video is GOLD, thank you so much! It was really helpful.

[@HarryAGeorgiou]

Thanks for this, I find habitica helpful but I find if I have so many things I want to do in a day I find though I still get a bit lost

[@ingvar1117]

You're as Brilliant as always ^^

[@dageta7742]

Does this also worked for choosing my future?

[@weegeemanxd2591]

Got anything on how to stay motivated through tough times?

[@joeykenney]

When stuck, prioritize action over everything. Action will show you the correct direction to take 100x faster than any analysis you could possibly run

[@DipMaster20]

what do you mean prioritize action over everything?

[@joeykenney]

@@DipMaster20 the sooner you start taking action, the sooner you start figuring out what actually works and what doesn’t. You’ll be wrong a lot but being wrong will actually allow you to progress faster in the long run

[@DipMaster20]

@@joeykenney Thank you. I will try that.

[@JuanCarlos-wx2tg]

indeed

[@user-mi5xq8zj7u]

I disagree. I think sometimes it’s more important to reflect, maybe figure out the source of indecision, maybe try to understand what emotions may be behind it and perhaps tackle that. Maybe you just need rest, a break, go for a walk, make sure you’ve had enough sleep/water/exercise, check on your physical health, meditate

[@RealJamieBarclay]

2 main lessons that have really helped me overcome overthinking: 1) No one can hurt you without your permission (ruminating on an insult or an embarrassing moment is like someone slapping you in the face and then you continuing to slap yourself in the face another 99 times) 2) You don't really know what the best decision is until you take action. Start then learn, don't learn then start.

[@Ascientistsjourney]

Well said. The first point really opened my eyes.

[@mrjunimful]

Wow, first one is a mind changing! Tks for sharing :)

[@RealJamieBarclay]

@@Ascientistsjourney Glad you found it valuable!

[@RealJamieBarclay]

@@mrjunimful Makes me super happy to hear, you're very welcome :)

[@karlahernandezhealthylifes7206]

For me the second was the best, we learn so much more by taking action

[@user-tu6gq6rf4j]

1. Get over your fear. Have an experimental outlook on life. Be okay with living in a poker game, not a chess. 2. Limit your choices. It doesn't matter which TV you pick, the happiness of movie watching will be the same. 3. Prioritize your actions. Do the regret exercise. Will you regret not doing something in the future? If so, make that action your priority.

[@sacdaabdurhman]

“Everything in life is easier when you don’t concern yourself with what other people are doing” Hope you have a good Monday 💜

[@DoctorAzmain]

I’m such an overthinker! The perfect video for me, Tom! Overthinking can be avoidant/fearful behaviour - “once I do this, there’s no way back”. As you say, just doing the thing will open up many more options than we previously had and prevent lost opportunities! For so long, I felt medicine would lock me into a career, but becoming a doctor has opened up so many options. It’s a lesson I’m still learning to be honest!

[@SaraphL]

Thanks! I'm a software dev and I learned to not spend too much time trying to come up with the absolute best solution to a problem. That was always taking me the biggest portion of time for my tasks. Now if the solution isn't immediately apparent, I just start doing *something* and adjust my work on the fly. Leads to much better productivity.

[@nikcimaskevic6415]

Nice point. Also could be that someone wants to learn new programming language and it is extremely difficult to choose one, since there are abundance of choices and one just switches between them without actually learning any.

[@stephen-finance]

Take action, and make adjustments when and where needed. Making a plan can be great, but at the end of the day, the first step needs to be taken to get anywhere. Often we don't know what we don't know when planning, we only begin to figure things out when we are in the middle of things.

[@DemetriPanici]

*”Perfect is the Enemy of Good” - Voltaire*

[@rodrigoopazoiturriaga8778]

I remember Thomas mentioning that quote! I loved it!

[@davehall17]

Boris Johnson once said it as well.

[@rodrigoopazoiturriaga8778]

@@davehall17 yikes

[@rdococ]

@@davehall17 based

[@effyapples6219]

You must be in my head because this is the video I’ve needed the past few weeks

[@emilyjoansmith]

Such a powerful video!! Thank you Thomas! *“Thinking too much leads to paralysis by analysis. It's important to think things through, but many use thinking as a means of avoiding action.”- Robert Herjavek*

[@BearOfZU]

This literally got recommended to me at the PERFECT time, I overthink WAY too much :P

[@samuelvilz]

5:30 I smile at your MTG example. I never experience decision paralysis as much as when I play Magic

[@tina4961]

I used to not see myself as an overthinker, I even tell my overthinker friends to relax and not worry too much. That is until I got into counselling, and I was made to realize how much I actually overthink. I hesitate a lot before asking questions, making important decisions, speaking up during discussions, making suggestions, or coming up with solutions. In the end, I just keep my mouth shut. It really affected my performance at work. These tips are so helpful, and I'll do my best to apply them. Thanks, Tom!

[@gaurav106_09]

That's what I was looking for. Sometimes I overthink about my pencil in my class 😂

[@theelizaaguilar]

I was able to stop overthinking (for the most part) once stuff and my own actions moved me away from my expected path post-college. I'm still trying to reroute myself but I have multiple ways to do so. So I've been enjoying the journey by developing new skills, practicing my hobbies, and prioritizing myself and my health.

[@DrJessicaLouie]

I see this a LOT in burnout. Having clarity of our values/ideal lifestyle and a decision deadline has helped a lot with overthinking and going into decision fatigue. Thank you for sharing your advice Thomas!

[@judiciousreader]

It's like you're directly talking to me! Seriously, you answered all my questions. Thanks.

[@anjumanalam]

Perfect timing, as always. Thanks Tom.

[@znbndtjgjwmdg]

You sir are a sorcerer!! Ive been paralyzed by my overthinking lately, thanks for vid :)

[@abdullahyahya2471]

Thank you Thomas, It really Helps. I am going through some tough phase in life and I can relate to your videos about analysis paralysis, Perfection and Anxiety. I struggle with them too.

[@laiflonglearner5806]

Needed this so much.. thanks for making this video!

[@damiengauci8580]

I haven’t watched your videos for a while, but I think this one was perfect for me where I am right now. Each day I don’t feel like doing anything because I have so many choices things to do. Really great video, much appreciated!

[@BeatrizLarrat]

One of your best videos right there. Everything made so much sense to me! Really liked the analogy and different examples, so thank you!

[@yashvardhangaur8547]

Another analogy I could give at 3:41, is that life is like a Hercule Poirot novel rather than a Sherlock Holmes one. Some pieces are in front of you, sure, but some are deliberately hidden- like Agatha Christie does.

[@raphaeldelav5803]

True! And it indeed works, takes time, but that’s with everything.

[@ShravanKumar147]

Loved what you said on abundance of choices - and the TV example. Gave me a mindset shift to "Go Do IT"

[@teedeww5049]

Just as i saw the title, i knew i needed this video so much, thx Thomass :)

[@dv_wild]

Thank you ❤ This video is so helpful 😊

[@CatarinaMangel]

I LOVE your channel so much. I overthink A LOT specially about my future career because i dont want anything to go wrong but after watching your video i've realized you'll never know unless you try and might as well go for something that actually excites me instead of thinking is it valuable for the future because you never know what might happen so i rather go for something i enjoy in this present moment. Thank you for teaching me that ❤❤❤

[@roblaveck6805]

Awesome video as usual. So dense with useful info. I truly agree with the "walk in and go with what looks good" approach, as I'm a recovering overthinker.

[@elpidaanastasiou9750]

Great tips really, thank you so much your videos are very helpful! 💖

[@moderationjpk1]

Awesome tips, Thomas! Tku!

[@Shadowchaos800]

Hey Thomas I enjoy watching your videos and find that I do get a lot of value from it. Can you please post more often?

[@jtcrichton]

This was very enlightening. Thank you.

[@natalialenchuk1759]

Thanks, really helpdul and to the point. Liked the regret exercise the most.

[@KellySmith4145]

Absolutely THE BEST and most enriching video I have ever seen about this issue. In fact, proof of this can be seen in the positive results of three major decisions I made after watching this.

[@srir3651]

I struggle with this so much. This is very helpful. I am content with my decision for now and we can always pivot, not how I normally think about life.

[@alexanderhanooman]

Wow dude you just helped in a life changing way thanks.

[@tyreegreen1591]

You have no idea, how much I needed this.

[@rebeccawarren3248]

Okay, wow this was insightful, didn’t know how much I needed this video. And the music is dope👌 I think this is my new favorite

[@ariennecelso4690]

The regret exercise makes sense! I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks a lot for this video!😊😊😊

[@6223222nicky]

Can't be better timing of a video. Just this morning i was overthinking about weather to go on a run, bike or tennis. Glad i saw this video. Also love martin's pixel art cameo.

[@mindiwilhelm4322]

Excellent ideas. Thank you.

[@Hbsmooth]

I appreciate these videos man 😢

[@adildahlan]

Great video! I really liked the quotes and scientific evidences u mentioned in the video, rather than one's personal perspective and thoughts! 👏🏼👏🏼

[@JayGregorio]

Thanks for sharing Thomas :)

[@kierayumin5584]

I was just overthinking so much before you uploaded this video😅 Thank you so much Thomas, those are truly helpful advice!!!👍🏻

[@HomesickMac]

I mean, your way to melt in the sponsors is par excellence. It's the smoothest move ever haha. Great video. I'm 62 and I'm enjoying learning from someone who's less than half my age. If I envy your generation on something, that'd be the connectivity of nowadays. Yes, it might add to the paralysis by too many choices and yes it adds an extra burden to nail it, but there are also more opportunities not to get stuck. The connectivity gives more knowledge about what (else) is happening in the world and it can inspire to a positive change. Of course I'll mention music. In my youth and when just starting playing the guitar, I hardly knew other musicians who played the similar style in a town nearby, I could only get to the knowledge if I saved the money to buy books, the VHS didn't come to the tuition market before I was already 25-26. So would the things have developed faster for me if there were KZbin and Facebook for the knowledge and marketing, socializing with creatives all around the world, or would it have paralysed me with too many choices? Difficult to say. Maybe it was better to have been mostly alone on my micro part of the market and just play, play, without anybody showing me stuff, did that help to create "my" grooves in a way? Your videos on this and similar topics are helping me make better and wiser decisions on what to do with the rest of my life. I _am_ overthinking (complicating...) and I need this kind of a kick in the b.. tips to shake me and speed up the things. My main goal while my playing hands are still steady is to share the knowledge I've gathered over those 47 years of experience. That's the thing you're mentioning - if there'd be something I'd regretted not doing from my ToDo list.... You Tube makes it so easy and it's such a rewarding feeling when I realise I've saved many extra steps for someone learning. Without yours and some other great videos on this platform, It might've taken me ages to start, if I'd ever started. I'm on it now. So thank you again!

[@dulanabeysundara4422]

Where was this video when I spent 4 years choosing what to do in college for 4 years!!

[@ksawerymarszaek3334]

Like.. right in time man! Thanks

[@jenluxe]

Super helpful thanks 😊

[@khushaalchaudhary6955]

Thanks! I overthink a lot, hopefully your tips will help.

[@dennisdiede]

Thomas Frank is the closest to a genius that I have in my life on video. He speaks to reality, reason and honesty. And I thought I WAS SMART...

[@BB-ux5wd]

Thank you so much 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽💜

[@abdallababikir9154]

The video came at the right time honestly.

[@Rgaloz]

Very well laud out “ Iron sharpens iron” 👍👍👍 “we are open letters” read by others 🙏🙏🙏 keep shining!

[@kitsurubami]

10:35 is the beginning of your video summary if you want to break that into a separate section. Currently it's labeled as part of "The Regret Exercise"

[@deokaweesi534]

Thank you very much.

[@jacoblutz1818]

Very useful thank you!

[@Be1smaht]

I knew all this.... just here for a tune up. Overthinkers unite!!!! But not sure where or when or how...

[@andibaysa1276]

I am glad that this comment section are ppl who are overthinkers and as much as i thought all along that my problems were the worst that ever existed and that I was the worst person there is. I eoverthought a lot even when other ppl who wronged me and broke me, betrayed me, tinalikuran ako, some ppl made me realized that I wasn't that bad. It was just me overthinking. Exploding over the smallest mistakes. And being an enemy to myself. Being tough on myself, thinking that I should be better, even if it meant being stressed and magulo

[@CarDrifter007]

Really liking these 8bit-game-style graphics integrated in the video! Very useful stuff :)

[@MONEYSNEAKERS]

Great, relatable examples

[@mridukejariwal3252]

very informative!

[@mohammadshah417]

This video resonated with me.

[@timbuktu8069]

I've always found it helpful to consider what I want the end result to be. That clears away a lot of the fun but not useful activities.

[@Seiferboi]

Huh, this is the second video in my Subscriptions list today that is over this exact topic!

[@sayedhossainkingdom9255]

I understand what you trying to explain. Hope more and more better video you send us.

[@MarissaLaipsker]

Overthinking is paralyzing to my productivity. At work, I actively have to tell myself to not do it all day long. I realized that my brain defaults to counterproductive overthinking when I am internally not comfortable with something I am or must be doing at that time. Great video, and thanks for the insight!

[@ThisisEnzoman]

Much love❤💯

[@EmanDeMoan]

That's for the tips! ❤️

[@dylenweerasekara9533]

Thanks for this wisdom.

[@he8976]

For more info & guide ☝️☝️

[@zachfairchild378]

10:09 that's kind of how I like to solve all my problems, scale it as big as I can to find the fault, then make improvements from there

[@Bladeclaw00100]

This really helps but, I have been screwed about the abundance problem. I went to study graphic design and just focused on one college that was nearby me. If I have done some research and comparisons between different colleges and institutes as well as learned more about what to look for when picking a college to go to, I would have not made the expensive choice I did. At the end I had no job, lack of some important skills, and some debt to pay off for some years. This is what I call buyers remorse and this happened to me more than once. This is why I now so what I call presearch before making bigger decisions. This means I am learning more about something eventhough I don't buy it. For example, I have a car currently but am researching which would be the next car to buy in case something happens to my current one. And when the time comes to buy one, either I will already have one picked out or I can spend less time on research, just to narrow down what I need. The abundance problem is most helpful with smaller less impactful decisions instead of ones that take lots of investment of time, energy, power, (Financing) and damage.

[@ammaratrat2139]

Thnx so helpful

[@youtop9579]

If you already know what you really want, stop thinking, stop procrastinate, stop making excuses. Just do it!

[@selfimprovementsimplified9370]

I’m glad I watched this! I always overthought how one decision can kill my life but this completely changed me! I also used to obsess buying fireworks looking hours through catalogs, but never ending up completely satisfied. I guess just going with the flow and being in the backseat can make life less stressful, being a boat in a river then trying to swim

[@p.lakhyaharichandana879]

One crucial decision , whether you are doing it intentionally or unintentionally, whether it is forced or not , is life altering , especially when relating to danger to life and limb, health , surroundings, when someone doesn't let you think by not giving you time to think and consult about something, don't do it.

[@animutung]

incredible cool animation work

[@Firegen1]

Thank you for reading my mind, Thomas. I hope it wasn't too stressful. It's very busy in there. Which I guess leads to this video.... neat!

[@JlBLBeckhauser]

Thank u !

[@yashvardhangaur8547]

THOMAS. MY MAN. DUDE. YOU'RE AN ABSOLUTE ORACLE, YOU ARE.

[@richardcarroll8779]

The reliquary tower analogy was great, I understood immediately the feeling that invokes.

[@Lilija_priglashaet_na_Kuhnju]

fine. thank you for the video.

[@Maal1981]

Hi, I am new to this channel. Thank you for the content. I really liked the end of day regret thing. But thank you. Have a great day Sir.

[@conlomerate4841]

First useful video you’ve made in the last 5 years.

[@yellow6100]

I will need to think about this video.

[@ryanrowell8860]

In the wise words of Kenny Loggins, “you got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money, when you’re sittin at the table, they’ll be time enough to count them, when the dealin’s done.”

[@lauraprincipato8079]

Kenny Rogers :)

[@ryanrowell8860]

@@lauraprincipato8079 lmao for some reason I want singing footloose in my head thank you :)

[@lauraprincipato8079]

@@ryanrowell8860 :)

[@chloet7385]

Limiting choices for me has been super helpful. Even if it's super arbitrary how I go about limiting my choice. Also realzing how many choices don't matter; what you eat for lunch today is NOT important and shouldn't use up a bunch of mental energy to decide.

[@mariemalattar1040]

Thanks for your

[@abj136]

Set Path vs Experimental: An idea I had not really encountered before, very stimulating Easily worth the price of my 15 minutes watching this video :)

[@wisdombro316]

A Very Very Great Video.

[@he8976]

For more info & guide ☝️☝️

[@francisco.j]

You give me a perfect example to reflect. I spend a lot of time, and procrastinate all day long, whith content about tech. Maybe it's time for care less about that and just buy a thing when I need it, whitouth overthinking.

[@AcePlaysTCGs]

An extension or maybe manifestation of the regret exercise that one of my friends taught me in college was the concept of flipping a coin if you're split between two options and then acknowledging how the result makes you feel, even if it's as simple as chicken or beef at Panda Express. Simply flip the coin and whatever the results suggests, capture your immediate reaction. Are you disappointed the coin said beef? Then go chicken. This might not work outside of either/or scenarios, but that's exactly what the regret exercise brought to mind for me. I've never really thought about asking "What would I hate the least?" when making decisions, but I think that's going to become a throughline for me going forward.

[@sandraDDAS]

Excellent

[@thomas.02]

I think dabbling in the stock market for the past year has helped me practice these principles indirectly, e.g. experiment mindset: if I'm not sure whether a certain stock is a good buy, I buy a little (e.g. half of what I would've put in) and see what happens incomplete information: that's basically built into the game of investing/trading where you weigh a bunch of info with differing degrees of confidence and credibility too much choice: at the end of the day you have limited capital and time so I just started with the companies I know and worked from there regret exercise: the question I ask myself is would I regret buying or not buying more if it's 50% chance to go up/down the same amount (obviously sometimes the risk/reward is not symmetrical but is a good starting point)

[@samueltremblay275]

I think the regret exercise is simply brilliant. I used to define my top priority by searching the most important thing I have to do. The regret exercise reverses the whole process. I've already read about Warren Buffett's 25/5 Rule and it's exactly the same; remove all you can remove to reach the top 5, the top 1 priority. I like to think it like the famous quote Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that says “Perfection is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.” Even so, even if I already read so many times about this, I've never had the "ah-ha moment" of what it really means to reverse the process. The regret exercise in words like nobody other than you can express gives me this spark. I will use it in the next few weeks as experimentation. Thanks a lot!!!

[@frankiestein8482]

i need this video as i have this problem

[@muzammermalik2668]

thanks man :)

[@Echolyris212]

Dude is getting buff🏋️‍♂️😤