Dear LPG, 

I spend quite a lot of time alone, and, as a result, my mind does its fair share of overtime.  I try to prepare for my tomorrow the night before, and I have lots of things to keep me occupied, but though I find myself getting off to a positive start each morning, it is as if I lose momentum by the time I get to midday.  

When my plans take me out of the house, I accomplish more of what I want to achieve. However, if I decide to do something that keeps me at home, such as tidying up or sorting out, I can lose an hour or two immersed in thoughts that lead to questions that no one can answer.

I looked at the internet and, very simply put, the first thing that I found was a website that informs that people between the ages of 25 and 55 are most likely to overthink things with the fear of the future being, at least, in part, at the root of any anxiety that overthinking things causes.   That news surprised me because I think about things a lot more now that I am retired and put that down to the time I have to do it. We retirees can be just as busy as the young, but so few of the things I need to do will likely cause any anguish if we leave them for a few days (or weeks).  We are the people who do not need to rush, so it is easy to interrupt our schedules.  

I don’t think I stress about them, but it bothers me because I lose so much time to my thoughts. This subject has come up a few times lately during chats with friends. About five of us recently found ourselves talking because we saw an online quiz, and all had a go.  

We concluded that the internet implies that all these younger people who are busy overthinking end up worrying about the future. At the same time, we oldies spend more time regretting aspects of the past, which causes us to become a bit more depressed. 

The answer is to focus on the best parts of the past while we let the more distant future take care of itself and stay in the present. 

GN, Kent.

GN shares the quiz that might get you thinking (not too much), though…

(►►►)   (►►►)    

… and has found some ideas to help LPG readers who double as over-thinkers…

(►►►)   (►►►)    (►►►)  (►►►)