How to train yourself to be a doer when you’re an overthinker

When it comes to achieving big goals, there’s one piece of advice that almost every successful person dishes out: You have to take action, and do so consistently. In theory, it’s a simple thing. In practice, there are many barriers that make following this advice difficult. One of those barriers is overthinking, a trait that many high-achievers unfortunately share. You know what you need to do, but you worry you’re doing the wrong thing. Or perhaps you put so much pressure on yourself to succeed at something that taking the first step feels scary because you’re afraid you won’t be good at that thing. It’s a vicious cycle, and if you’re an overthinker with big goals, the resistance to action can feel paralyzing. But there are ways to train yourself to take action when you find yourself stuck in this loop. 1. Identify your reasons for overthinking The first step is to identify the reason you have a tendency to overthink in the first place. Sharon Spano, an organizational development psychologist who works with leaders and executives, says the cause of overthinking often falls into two categories. “I work with clients who are literally wired [that way]; part of their brain is just sl…