Have you ever had one of those nights where no matter how much you toss, turn, or beg the sleep gods—you just can’t fall asleep?
Yeah… that was me, the other night.
My brain, instead of winding down, decided to host an all-night VIP party for every single unresolved thought I’ve ever had. One tiny innocent thought entered the room, and suddenly—bam!!!!!
full-blown mental stampede.
- “Did I accidentally offend someone today?”
- “Was I rude to that guy in the elevator?”
- “What’s going to happen next week?”
And then begins the maze. Not just any maze—this was a full-on crystal labyrinth of overthinking. And the worst part? No way out.
My mind had turned into a courtroom.
I was the lawyer building arguments, I was the accused feeling guilty, And I was also the judge banging the gavel, yelling “ORDER!”… except, there was no order, no verdict, no peace.
Just pure, relentless, exhausting chaos.
And guess what? If you’re nodding along, welcome aboard! You’re officially a permanent member of the Overthinking Thought-Traffic Club. Don’t worry—we have way more members than we’d like to admit.
When Your Mind Becomes Like Indian Traffic…
You know how in India, traffic signals are more like polite suggestions? And horns? Oh, they’re a national instrument.
That’s exactly how overthinking works.
Our brain just keeps honking—thoughts zoom past the red lights, breaking every mental traffic rule possible. And rest? What’s that? The brain doesn’t even pause for speed bumps.
David Foster Wallace once said
That night, in the middle of my midnight mind marathon, I remembered something David Foster Wallace once said:
“Thinking is a good servant but a poor master.”
Wow. That hit hard.
Because let’s be honest—thinking isn’t the problem.
It’s the excessive thinking that hijacks our peace. The moment thoughts start bossing you around, instead of the other way around—that’s when you lose control.
Present Lost. Future Feared. Past Replayed.
I also noticed something sneaky.
Every time I got caught in this overthinking storm, I wasn’t even living in the present. I was either stuck replaying awkward past scenes, or imagining dramatic worst-case future scenarios that may never happen.
And slowly, without realizing, I was losing grip over my present self. My “NOW” was quietly slipping away—while I was busy entertaining uninvited thoughts like a confused party host.
Sometimes, it even felt like a mental conspiracy. Like someone out there was planting these thought-bombs in my head and watching them explode, one after another.
But then I realized—this is not just my story.
This is our story. We all go through this maze, at some point or another.
My DIY Toolkit to Handle Thought-Traffic 🚦
So here are some quirky things I’ve started doing—maybe they’ll work for you too:
Stop Filing RTIs on Every Thought
Not every thought deserves a full investigation. Some are like forwarded WhatsApp messages—they seem urgent but are usually trash. Don’t deep-dive into every mental notification. Just swipe left.
Learn, Don’t Linger
If you genuinely made a mistake, own it. Learn and move forward. Don’t keep replaying the “What ifs” like it’s your favorite sad playlist.
Set a Thought Limit
We count calories. We count screen time. Maybe it’s time we start counting our thoughts. Give yourself a “thought budget.” Too many, and you’ll crash like an overloaded app.
Treat Thoughts Like Guests, Not Landlords
When an overthinking wave hits, ask your mind: “Excuse me, thought-ji, aap kab jaaoge?”
Don’t let them move in, decorate your brain, and start charging rent. Keep them like Airbnb guests—short stay, no emotional baggage.
Be Your Own Traffic Cop
You can’t stop thoughts from showing up, but you can direct traffic.
Instead of letting every thought bark orders like a street dog with a megaphone, put on your mental uniform and say, “STOP. RED LIGHT. MOVE ON.”
Final Thoughts
You know how when you’re traveling, you meet all sorts of people—some are nice, some are loud, some seem deep? But you don’t become BFFs with everyone, right?
It’s the same with thoughts. They show up, sure. But they don’t all deserve to be your roommates.
If we start seeing thoughts as passing strangers and not permanent residents, maybe—just maybe—the mind’s chaotic courtroom will turn into a quiet library (with free Wi-Fi).
Let your brain be the tool, not the tyrant.
Use it. Enjoy it. Just don’t hand over the keys.
Signature
Overthinking might be hard to stop, but we don’t need to romance it.
Our brain is like an app—configure it smartly.
Let thoughts flow, but don’t let them flood you.
Think smart. Not more.
What’s your go-to trick to manage the thought-traffic?
Drop it in the comments. Let’s share tools, not triggers
