You know you Overthink when you lay awake at nights because your head is full of thoughts about different things and you just can't shut it off. It's probably you don't see it coming but you know it bothers you when you keep thinking about it in the dark when everyone is sleeping.

What bothers me is that sometimes these things don't bother me during the day. Well, not always. Sometimes it is indeed something that preoccupies my mind during the day.

I think this happens to me because I tend to keep many things to myself and don't let my opinion out. This leads to this Imaginary Conversation with someone where I should've talked to instead of keeping it to myself.

My boss had asked me to get out of my shell and express my opinion more often and make myself heard. I'm trying to, but sometimes it's just exhausting and energy consuming.

It's one thing to speak, it's another thing to actually speak out and carry a Conversation. So, what I've been doing to overcome this are:

1. Write my thoughts. Wherever that might be--journal, notebook, smart phone, laptop--so I can use them when I actually meet the person I have imaginary conversation with. I've been actually doing this since very young as suggested by my father who kept a journal and wrote things that happen to his day. 

2. Stop thinking about it. It's not easy for sure, otherwise I will not write on the first place. What I'm trying to say is, when you've put your thoughts into writing, do something else: work on other things, go read a book, watch a movie, do exercise, eat a banana, pray! Whatever that is, put your mind off of it.

3. The last and most important thing is: Speak your mind! Say whatever you want to say, let your opinion get heard, say what's been bothering you and get on with your life. One good thing if you already wrote down your thoughts first, you will be able to 'edit' whatever you wrote before actually saying it out loud. This way, what you say will be more organized and perhaps more polite and doesn't offend the person you're talking to. And also it will be more believable and convincing if you have a clear train of thoughts.

Apart from the things I've done, I found some interesting suggestions on the internet as well to overcome overthinking. Some of them are:

1. Identify when you start overthink. That way you can stop before it gets too deep or too much.

2. Consider other viewpoints. Instead of thinking over and over again that something bad might happen, think otherwise. Think if the outcome will be positive or as expected.

3. Stay present. Instead of dwelling in your thoughts, have a real conversation with people that matter to you. 

Again, it will not be easy but you have to start somewhere, right? So, let's start small and see how it goes.