Four questions to help you stop overthinking
Description: Overthinking feels productive, and that is exactly the trap the research pins down.
Sonja Lyubomirsky and Susan Nolen-Hoeksema had people either dwell on themselves or focus on something unrelated, then asked them to solve real problems from their own lives. The ruminators produced worse solutions. They also reported feeling like they had gained insight. Confidence went up while quality went down.
Which is why questions beat argument. Each of these four pushes the mind out of the loop and toward something that has an answer.
Lyubomirsky, S., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1995). Effects of self-focused rumination on negative thinking and interpersonal problem solving. *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69*(1), 176–190.
Lyubomirsky, S., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1993). Self-perpetuating properties of dysphoric rumination. *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65*(2), 339–349.
Follow @danielpink for behavioral science you can put to work the same day you read it.--
To find out more about Daniel Pink, his books, and view his resources, visit https://danpink.com Close description
Sonja Lyubomirsky and Susan Nolen-Hoeksema had people either dwell on themselves or focus on something unrelated, then asked them to solve real problems from their own lives. The ruminators produced worse solutions. They also reported feeling like they had gained insight. Confidence went up while quality went down.
Which is why questions beat argument. Each of these four pushes the mind out of the loop and toward something that has an answer.
Lyubomirsky, S., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1995). Effects of self-focused rumination on negative thinking and interpersonal problem solving. *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69*(1), 176–190.
Lyubomirsky, S., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1993). Self-perpetuating properties of dysphoric rumination. *Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65*(2), 339–349.
Follow @danielpink for behavioral science you can put to work the same day you read it.--
To find out more about Daniel Pink, his books, and view his resources, visit https://danpink.com Close description