PhD Students - Overthinking is a common problem for many PhD students.

 Post credit: Faheem Ullah (LinkedIn)

Overthinking can lead to anxiety, stress, and burnout.

Here are some tips that can help PhD students stop overthinking.

𝟏. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: One of the main reasons for overthinking is the lack of action. When you act more and think less, you won't be getting stuck in the loop of overthinking. If it's a big project, break it down into smaller pieces. Plan for the smaller parts and move ahead with the execution.

𝟐. 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟓 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞: If you feel like doing something, count from 5 to 1 and then start acting. If you wait, your brain will automatically push you back.

𝟑. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: If you know that writing a paper will take a month, you'd be lazy to start writing it and will keep thinking about it. However, if you think that writing the abstract of the paper will take 1 day, you will more likely start writing it.

𝟒. 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: It may sound crazy, but it isn't. When you plan to work like a normal person, you end up wasting even the hours you are supposed to be working. If you train your brain to work all the time, you will end up working 8-10 hours a day.

𝟓. 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮: You often are concerned about what other people would think of you or they will judge you. It's not the case. People don't think about you as much as you think they are. Start doing the things you want to do and the way you want to do them.

𝟔. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: When you think about the problem, you start getting worried. You start thinking that the problem is too big and that you are the only one facing it. Shift your approach. Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on the solution. Your entire mindset will change.

𝟕. 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡: Many PhD students wastes a lot of their time and energy just worrying primarily about their timely PhD completion. Did worrying solve any problem? It didn't. However, taking the right actions do. So, stop worrying and start acting.

𝟖. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭: PhD students are often worried about the future - Will I complete PhD on time? Will I get a job after PhD? Will I get visa? You will cross this bridge when it comes. For the moment, focus on your PhD activities.

𝟗. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: When you keep thinking about the eventual milestone, you will be constantly worried. Celebrate your small accomplishments such as acceptance of a paper, good feedback for a presentation, a new collaboration, etc. It will motivate you to keep going.

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