Pressing Pause

It's frustrating when you're worn out from a busy day but when you collapse into bed your mind won't stop whirring long enough for you to go to sleep. The more you will yourself to sleep the more elusive it becomes, and the more stressed you get. In this episode we look at: Why sleep is a priority not a luxury What we can learn from children's bedtime routines 6 ways to calm your overthinking mind...

Whether you're a morning person or not (I'm not) you can often feel frazzled and rushed from the start, which then sets the tone for the rest of the day. Without getting up any earlier or finding more time in your morning, you can begin your day on a more positive, nourishing and calm note. In this episode we look at: How to create positive feelings for yourself and others before you even get out...

There's one little word that we use all the time and by doing so we make ourselves feel bad in so many ways. That word is 'should'. You should do this, you should be that, you shouldn't feel this. It's laden with obligation, shame and an absence of choice, whether we use it in our self-talk or when someone uses the word in conversation with us. In this episode we look at: How we use 'should' in ev...

While it's important to stay up to date and informed on what's happening locally and across the globe, overthinkers can become overwhelmed by news reports and feel a mixture of guilt, upset and helplessness. In this episode we look at: The difference between being informed and overwhelmed How staying glued to the news doesn't necessarily help you or those involved in the reports The positive actio...

Meditation isn't about emptying your head, sitting cross-legged in silence or spending hours chanting, and your mind wandering means you're doing it right, not wrong! If you get lost in a spiral of thoughts and what ifs, taking a few minutes a day to meditate can really help you. In this episode we look at: What the point is in meditating How overthinkers can benefit from it The science behind how...

There's a lot of confusion over self-care – it's about much more than bubble baths, it isn't being selfish and it's not about putting yourself first. Taking care of your needs as well as taking care of everyone else makes you better able to spend less time lost in raking over the past and what if-ing the future. In this episode we look at: What self-care is And what self-care is not Where you may...

Overwhelm likes to take on different guises so it can get a firm hold on you without you even realising. It shows up as a lack of focus, an inability to know what to do next, as a lack of patience, as pessimism, lethargy and apathy along with plenty of other feelings that make you want to hide under the duvet. In this episode we look at: The sneaky signs that you're in overwhelm What are the commo...

Overthinkers often believe that if you can have everything in life planned out and organised, know what's happening where, when, how and with whom, then you'll be able to stop worrying. If only it was really true. Trying to keep control of everything doesn't stop you worrying so it's time we took a different approach. In this episode we look at: What wanting to be in total control looks like The r...

There are times when thinking over a problem or formulating a plan while you're walking works well and other times when you get stuck in overthinking, going over and over the same thoughts without getting anywhere. That's when applying mindfulness while you're in the great outdoors, whether you're in a crowded city or a quiet forest, can calm your whirring mind, reduce your stress and open your ey...

When you think of what makes you feel content, what gives you bumps of joy in your daily life, more often than not it's the little things rather than the big events. And why is that? It's because we notice these so-called little things and we savour them. The benefits of savouring the ordinary stuff of life are far-reaching. In this episode we look at: What is savouring What are the benefits to ou...

While you're replaying the same thoughts over and over and over again you're lost in your head ruminating and what if-ing and worrying and overthinking. It's exhausting and stressful and it can feel really hard to break free of this overthinking vortex. But it is possible. Not by trying not to think but by directing your attention elsewhere. In this episode we look at: What is rumination How it fe...

As we scroll through social media we can find ourselves making up stories about what we see in other people's posts. This can lead us into the comparison trap and to feeling dissatisfied, irritated, tense, sad and question ourselves and how we live our lives. Being mindful of how you feel before you open the apps, and checking in with yourself while you scroll can help you to notice what impact so...

There's a lot of talk about mindfulness and with good reason. Mindfulness helps us to slow down our overthinking brains, to let go of rehashing what's already happened or imagining what could or could not happen next. To just be here, in this moment, in what's real in our lives right now without judging it or trying to change it. In this episode we look at: What mindfulness is What the benefits ar...

Savouring the good stuff and making a point every day to appreciate the little things in life can have a real and powerful positive impact on your life. In this episode we look at: What being thankful, grateful and appreciative is and what it is not What gratitude practice is and how you can do it The benefits of regular gratitude practice as shown by positive psychology research How I've made tha...

It's a typical trait of the overthinker – worrying about what other people think of us. It's exhausting and stressful giving so much time, energy and brainspace to thinking about how other people, from our family, friends and workmates to complete strangers on the street and on social media are judging us. In this episode we look at: how to challenge these thoughts why others don't think about us...

Welcome to the first episode of Pressing Pause, the podcast for overthinkers. In this episode you'll discover what overthinking looks like, how it impacts your participation in and enjoyment of daily life, and what Gabrielle will share with you in the coming shows to empower you to free yourself from the chains of overworrying and live the lighter, more content and joyful life you want.