Top Quotes: “Don’t Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life” — Anne Bogel
“Because we made a single decision — that is, deciding on a big-picture value — we can see all other decisions as parts of a whole instead of as an endless string of isolated decisions. When a decision touches on our values, we have little to think about. With our internal world in order, we can move outward in the right direction. These values can guide our lives in the big pieces and the day-to-day stuff. Whether we’re going to Thailand or the grocery store, what we do can flow naturally out of who we are.”
“Nowadays when I feel stuck making a decision, I ask myself, Do I hold a value that can inform this decision? When the answer is yes — and it often is — the decision becomes a whole lot easier.”
“If you schedule time every day to worry or overthink, your brain is less likely to nag you with those thoughts throughout the day.”
“Think of it like riding out a craving. Studies indicate that the average food craving lasts only three to five minutes. If you can avoid the craving for that short period of time, the trigger food often doesn’t look enticing just a few minutes later. The same holds true for overthinking. Nolen-Hoeksema writes, “Giving people positive distractions from their overthinking for just eight minutes is remarkably effective in lifting their moods and breaking their cycle of repetitive thought.” Distraction works because the mind can only do so many things at once, so when negative thoughts beckon, find another way to keep your mind occupied. Read a book, call a friend, pay a bill, play eight minutes of Tetris.”
“Now, whenever the countless options feel overwhelming, I look for a way to quickly narrow my options. Not sure what to read next? Try limiting yourself to the books already on your shelf or those available right now at your regular library branch. Need a birthday gift? Try limiting yourself to just one store (or even just one category, like journals). Not sure what to plant in this year’s herb garden? You guessed it: instead of driving all over town to see what’s available, resolve to plant only what you can find at one local nursery.”
“Consider implementing device-free zones in your life — a physical space and/or a set time when you put your device away.”
“We can save vast amounts of mental energy by asking for help at the beginning of a project. Once we’re in motion, it’s easy to stay in motion, but it can take a whole lot of effort to get started.
Have you experienced the daunting feeling of needing to begin? I’m a writer, and I know too well how overwhelming a blank page can be. It’s hard work to turn nothing into something. But once I have a draft — even a shoddy one — I can make it better.
If the idea of starting something is daunting, think about how you could get someone else to help you create a metaphorical first draft. Can someone else create the starting point?”
“Our family has gotten better about deliberately embracing these spontaneous opportunities, like bumping into friends and inviting them to come back to our house for lunch.”
“My mother swears her grandmother maintained close relationships with all of her grandchildren because she issued a standing invitation to her entire family for Saturday morning breakfast. If they came, she would cook. They came, and she did. Without the food, they wouldn’t have been as motivated to come. (Many of her grandchildren were teenage boys at the time, and my great-grandmother said it was no coincidence she built the ritual around breakfast!)”
