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Breaking The Overthinking Trap Day 4

📅 Day 4: The 5-Minute Worry Window (Containing the Chaos)

​Welcome to Day 4! If we try to banish overthinking completely, it usually fights back harder. So today, instead of fighting it, we are going to give it a scheduled appointment.

​🔍 Deep Dive Explanation

​A "Worry Window" is a dedicated 5 to 10-minute period during the day where you allow yourself to overthink as catastrophically as you want. But here is the catch: when the timer goes off, you are done. If an overthought pops up later in the day, you tell it, "Not right now. I'll deal with you during my worry window tomorrow." This sets a healthy boundary with your own mind.

​❓ Reflection Questions for the Comments

• ​What time of day will you schedule your "Worry Window"?

• ​What is a grounding activity you can do right after your window closes to shift your focus (e.g., listening to a song, stretching, drinking water)?

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User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 9th

@cheerfulKiwi1776

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Sorry for late posting this i was busy today!


@cheerfulKiwi1776

I don't have any window named as such 🥲

7 replies
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 9th

@trueconfidant123

Heven would you be interested in making one??

4 replies
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 9th

@cheerfulKiwi1776

My keyboard is not fair. I wrote hehe and it wrote heven lolll

1 reply

@cheerfulKiwi1776 I was confused when I saw the notification lol 😂

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@cheerfulKiwi1776 yeah that would be good, thank you for posting 😊

1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 9th

@trueconfidant123

Okieee. I m glad

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User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 9th

@trueconfidant123

Lol yeah my keyboard messed upp

1 reply

@cheerfulKiwi1776 no worries ❤️

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User Profile: Torean
Torean July 9th

Believe me when I say I've already met my quota today. 😅

I dunno if this is a good idea for me. My worries will spiral if I let them. Better to stay busy. If I end up needing it tonight, I'll try to limit it. I'll probably spend time with my pets or something to shift focus.

1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 9th

@Torean

Thats great as well! 

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User Profile: Amanda84
Amanda84 July 9th

@cheerfulKiwi1776

I usually set my worry window for the end of my day, I take the time to think of the good things during the day, if I had any challenges, what I handled well, what could gave been better. I breathe, listen to music, and let the day go and remind myself, I'm not perfect but I'm trying and I always show up 🩷

1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 10th

@Amanda84

Wow that's so hard and amazing to do so! Well done!

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User Profile: IzzyGamer
IzzyGamer July 10th

@cheerfulKiwi1776

Tbh if I just let myself just worry about everything I tend to start spiraling really quickly and I end up getting to a really bad place. It's easier for me to just stay busy and distract myself so I don't have to think about things. 

1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 10th

@IzzyGamer

I guess not everything works for everyone! Good luck finding what works for you

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User Profile: Luminity125
Luminity125 July 10th

@cheerfulKiwi1776

Does it make sense I feel it's not enough time? I'm used to overthinking 24/7 and it's just difficult to contain it in 5-10 mins. But I'll try. I'll choose the time before bed, because I'm used to overthinking at that time already 🙃

Thanks for the amazing post ✨

1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 10th

@Luminity125

I really wish that it will be helpful! You are amazing. Thanks for your kind words. Let me know if it works

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User Profile: skob11
skob11 July 10th

Me: hey we can’t worry about that now, it’s not in our worry window!

My brain: cool story bro, so anyway proceeds to overthink about everything wrong with the world, myself and others

1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 10th

@skob11

Lolll it happens to me as well! You could always try the worry window if you'd like! I hope you find what works for you

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User Profile: stormieandpaws
stormieandpaws July 11th

@cheerfulKiwi1776

​What time of day will you schedule your "Worry Window"?

this was given to me years ago use to use it a lot kinda got out of the habit of  doing  this when i did it i learned   never to do it right before  bed as can make one dream of what one worried about best time for me was in early  afternoon as then it did not affected my dreams 

• ​What is a grounding activity you can do right after your window closes to shift your focus (e.g., listening to a song, stretching, drinking water)?

listen to music and journal what i am feeling so it get out of my mind as that happens when i journal 



1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 11th

@stormieandpaws

Thats so amazing!! Well done for being so aware

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User Profile: mytwistedsoul
mytwistedsoul July 11th

Maybe towards evening? It usually hits whenever something pops into my head so idk how having a set time is going to work? 

I usually go for a walk and listen to the sounds of nature or hang out with the dog 

3 replies
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 11th

@mytwistedsoul

Thay makes sense. Do you think it would help you though? The worry window?

2 replies
User Profile: mytwistedsoul
mytwistedsoul July 11th

@cheerfulKiwi1776 I'm willing to give it a try! 

1 reply
User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 OP July 12th

@mytwistedsoul

Great! Let me know the results!

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