Thinking vs. Doing: Why Your Busy Brain Isn’t Always Progress
I’ll be the first to admit it: I love thinking.
I love sitting with myself, considering ideas, rolling possibilities around in my mind.
Processing, silently reflecting, imagining, that’s always been a very comforting place for me.
And, sometimes what feels like thinking is actually overthinking.
And overthinking has this sneaky quality: it feels productive, but often it’s just mental spinning disguised as progress.
Why Your Brain Loves to Overthink
There’s a good reason for this. The brain is wired to scan for problems, dangers, and “what ifs.” It believes that by replaying scenarios and analyzing from every angle, it’s keeping us safe.
But safety and progress are not the same thing.
And when your brain is working really hard at thinking, it can trick you into believing you’re moving forward, when in reality, nothing is happening outside your head.
No decision has been made. No action has been taken. There’s nothing you could point to as proof.
Thinking feels busy. Doing creates evidence.
A Quick Gut Check
Here’s a question I often ask myself:
If I had to take a picture of proof that I’ve made progress on this… what would the picture show?
If I can’t point to a real result (an email sent, a decision communicated, a step taken, something created), then I know I’m still in thinking mode, not doing.
I absolutely understand there are seasons when reflection and spaciousness are vital and utterly essential.
We all need time for processing, dreaming, slowing down, and not rushing. That’s not what I’m talking about here.
I’m talking about the pattern of re-deciding the same thing over and over again. The mental fatigue of looping on the same question without ever moving it forward. That kind of overthinking drains energy without creating results.
And when that becomes the default, it’s time to make a shift.
3 Steps to Reduce Overthinking and Start Doing
1. Externalize It.
Write it down, speak it out loud, or put it into a voice memo. Get it out of your head and into a tangible form. Often, overthinking keeps us trapped because the “problem” lives only in our minds. Putting it outside of you brings clarity and makes it easier to decide what’s next.
2. Define the Proof.
Ask yourself: What would proof of progress look like here? Maybe it’s sending the proposal, publishing the post, or calling the person. Make the next step visible and measurable. (If you can’t take a picture of it, it probably doesn’t count.)
3. Shrink the First Step.
Overthinking thrives on the idea that everything has to be figured out before you begin. Instead, shrink your first step down until it feels doable. Don’t plan the whole project; map out the one next step. Do that one next step. Then come up with the next one and repeat.
Thinking has its place. But when your brain convinces you that the spinning is progress, it’s time to pause and ask:
Do I have proof that I am taking action?
Or am I just circling the same problem/decision again?
One keeps you stuck.
The other moves you forward.
And even the smallest piece of proof, one email sent, one page drafted, one brave step taken, can be the beginning of big momentum.
For your reflection:
Where in your life or business are you thinking more than you’re doing? What’s one small, photo-worthy piece of proof you could create today?
With immense appreciation & gratitude. Always.
