Do you find yourself going around and around in your head about choices you wish you’d made, relationships that drag you down, or parts of your life that aren’t working?
Hi, I’m Rachel Simmons, New York Times bestselling author, Smith College leadership development specialist, and internationally recognized author and educator.
My superpower is developing practical tools that help people feel braver, more resilient and less alone.
Oh, and yes—I’m an overthinker.
My superpower is developing practical tools that help people feel braver, more resilient and less alone.
Oh, and yes—I’m an overthinker.
I’ve been overthinking for as long as I can remember. When I was upset, I’d spend hours trying to figure out why. When I screwed up or life didn’t go my way, I’d beat myself up, on repeat. How could I do that? What was I thinking? When I was in a conflict with another person, I’d spend hours on angry, resentful thoughts: Why did she say that? Why isn’t he calling me back?
I did this because I was 100% convinced overthinking was good for me. Like the thousands of people I’ve taught, I was sure overthinking gave me the control and wisdom I needed to solve my problems.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. When I dove into the research, I was stunned.
For decades, psychologists have found that overthinking:
- is a major catalyst for depression, especially in women -- in fact, it’s considered the reason why women suffer from depression at twice the rate of men.
- weakens your problem solving ability -- when you overthink, you second-guess yourself and lose confidence in your abilities.
- reduces your motivation to change your life, keeping you going in circles instead of moving forward.
- elevates your anxiety
- is linked to binge eating.
Simply put, overthinking is the opposite of a healthy response to stress.
Tell me if this sounds familiar...
- A relationship ends before you’d like it to, and you end up trapped in a mental loop of all the things you could’ve said or done differently.
- You feel lonely, then start overthinking about how your friends never make plans with you, and how you’re the one who always has to ask people to hang out.
- Your manager critiques your work performance, and you spend the next 4 hours ranting and raving about them in your head.
- You make a brave change in your life, only to be greeted by crippling existential questions like Did I make a mistake? and Is it all downhill from here?
We lose untold hours of our lives to overthinking: hours we could be spending with people we love or pursuing our dreams—or, hey, actually getting a good night’s sleep. And here’s the thing: the more we overthink, the more we want to. It’s a bad habit, like nail biting or smoking. We know it’s bad for us but it feels good in the moment. It soothes us at first but hurts in the long run.
When we overthink, some part of us truly believes we’re on the verge of a simple phrase or decision will magically fix whatever’s gone wrong. But overthinking never inspires us. It’s like going back to the fridge over and over again, convinced this time we’ll figure out what will make us feel full. We’re racking our minds searching for a solution instead of simply taking productive steps to help us move on with our lives. We’re getting unhappier, more anxious, less confident, and less capable.
How can you stop? That’s where my course comes in.
Overthinking isn’t a switch you turn on and off. As with any skill, managing your overthinking is a lifelong practice, a muscle that I’ll help you develop and flex over time.
Imagine this...
- A relationship ends before you’d like it to. Instead of stewing and rehearsing revenge in your head, you take a long walk, call a friend or meditate.
- You start thinking about how your friends never initiate plans with you—then decide to text a friend to go out for drinks instead.
- Your manager critiques your work performance, and instead of spending hours fantasizing about quitting, you practice self-compassion and consider your contribution to the problem.
How To Quit Overthinking: An Online Course Designed To Free You From Repetitive Negative Thoughts And Help You Take Action In The Moment
I’m thrilled to announce the online version of my How To Quit Overthinking workshop, which I’ve taught to hundreds of teens and adults and now adapted into a self-paced, fully personalizable online course.
When you register for How To Quit Overthinking, you’ll gain immediate access to:
- 5 video lessons of skill-building training with me
- Step-by-step instruction in creating your Overthinking Profile, a comprehensive blueprint of how you overthink
- Research-based strategies to help you quit second guessing, facepalming and overthinking your relationships
- Your custom Overthinking Protocol, a personalized plan to help you quit overthinking in the moment
I know what works, and I'm not going to waste your time.
As expected, Rachel has offered research-based, and practical advice for how to deal with something that I have been doing my whole life! The “bite-sized” videos are great – the content doesn’t feel too overwhelming and it was easy to find an hour to listen and do the work. The personal examples she gives and the handouts really help drive the concepts home and I know I will call on these the next time I start to overthink!
Julie B.
FAQs
How does this course work?
Each of How To Quit Overthinking’s five modules take you through learning, reflection and interactive exercises. We’ve designed the content to steer you towards a deeper understanding of your overthinking habits and give you the tools to navigate your way out. You’ll also create your Overthinking Protocol, a personalized process for managing overthinking in the moment.
How do I know this will really impact my life?
Think of it this way: How much time would you save if you didn’t overthink? If you’re not sure, spend a day or two paying close attention to your thoughts, particularly after the more challenging parts of your day. Ask yourself: What else could I be doing with this time?
What if I don’t have time to participate?
Listen, we’ve all bought a course online then ran out of time to work on it. Luckily, once you purchase access to How To Quit Overthinking, you’re in for life. You can come back to the content whenever it suits your schedule (though we’d recommend sooner than later). You can also return to the exercises in moments of distress.
Do you offer a sliding scale payment?
Yes! If you're interesting in this course but the price is out of your budget, please email lexi@rachelsimmons.com to discuss our sliding scale payment option.
Learn to quit overthinking, stop second guessing yourself and break free of toxic criticism in How To Quit Overthinking, the online course by Rachel Simmons.
What's included
Contents
Lesson 1: Introduction
Lesson 2: What Is Overthinking?
Lesson 3: What Overthinking Does To Us
Lesson 4: How To Quit Overthinking (Strategies)
Lesson 5: Creating Your Overthinking Protocol
Individual Handouts
How To Quit Overthinking is NOT for you if…
- If you don’t second guess your decisions, never replay your gaffes, or stew in resentment, congratulations! The rest of us will join you on the other side soon.
- You’re looking for a one-and-done fix. The strategies I’ll teach you are simple and can be implemented immediately, but you have to stick with them to turn them into healthy habits. Skills are like muscles; they only get stronger with practice.
How To Quit Overthinking IS for you if…
- You’ve ever said, “Oh, I overthink everything,” as if it were an indisputable fact and not something you can change.
- You can feel yourself going around and around in your head every time life throws you a curveball
- You’ve ever laid in bed at night thinking about all the things you did wrong that day
- You know for certain that what you’re doing right now isn’t working, and you need a push in the right direction
- You’re willing and ready to do the work needed to make a change in your life