An "Exit Map" for overthinkers
How to stop yourself from overanalyzing your decisions?
Beyond ruminating about the past and future-tripping, overthinkers also fall into the trap of overanalyzing decisions. And while overthinking can sometimes work to your advantage, most of the time it’s a pain. So, today I want to share with you my exit map—designed specifically for us overthinkers.
Before we get into it, let’s have a quick run-through on why we overanalyze in the first place:
It feels like productivity.
You feel like you’re preparing for all possible scenarios you’re cooking up in your head. But it’s motion, not action.
Fear of failure.
The fear of What if I fail?, What if people judge me? hold us back.
Fear of regret.
And then there’s regret about having regrets!
Fear of being left behind
You feel like you have to run twice as fast just to stay in place.
Now that we know what’s driving the loop, let’s break it with the Exit Map for Overthinkers ⬇️
[Step 0: Name the decision clearly]
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TATOO CHECK - Is this decision reversible?
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Yes → Go by gut feeling → Decide → EXIT
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No → Use VALUES-BASED FILTERING
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Does your value lens give clarity?
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Yes → Decide → EXIT
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No → Use 10-10-10 → Long-term perspective → Decide → EXIT
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Still unclear?
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Run a TINY EXPERIMENT → Set a time frame → Proceed/Pause/Pivot → EXIT The four tools used in the exit map are as follows:
Tool 1: Tattoo check ✅
Is this decision even worth overanalyzing?
James Clear describes decisions as: Hats, Haircuts, or Tattoos.
Hat decisions: Try it on, take it off anytime.
Haircut decisions: Takes some time to grow out, but it’s not permanent.
Tattoo decisions: Permanent. Think it through carefully.
If it’s a hat or even a haircut, trust your gut feeling.
Ask yourself:
Which option makes me feel calmer, more relaxed, relieved?
Which one triggers anxiety and tension?
Example:
Should I switch my task management app?
→ Hat decision. Try it for a week. If you don’t like it, switch back. No need to overthink.
Tool 2: Values-based filtering 🎯
When you're stuck in analysis paralysis, you’re likely weighing too many external factors: pros, cons, opinions, risks, outcomes, hypotheticals.
Nothing else matters more than your values. And that’s an internal perspective.
Ask yourself:
"Which option aligns best with what matters most to me?"
Instead of chasing the perfect answer, you choose the path that stays true to your values—whether that’s freedom, growth, honesty, creativity, or stability.
Example:
Decision in question: Should I take the higher-paying job or stay at the startup?
Value: Freedom and creative autonomy.
Filter: Which option better protects my freedom?
Result: Even if the higher-paying job looks good on paper, you realise the startup fits better with your value of autonomy. Decision made.
Tool 3: 10-10-10 🕰️
This method by Suzy Welch helps you zoom out.
Ask yourself:
How will I feel about this decision 10 minutes from now?
How about 10 months from now?
And 10 years from now?
It gives you perspective beyond the current stress.
Example:
Decision in question: Should I skip my workout today because I feel tired?
10 minutes: Relieved, but slightly guilty.
10 months: If I skip often, I might fall out of the habit.
10 years: Consistency matters more than daily motivation.
Decision: Do a light workout. It keeps the habit alive.
Tool 4: Think in tiny experiments
Based on Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff.
Mini life experiments create a bias toward action instead of analysis.
When I started this newsletter, I used to overthink everything:
Should I include this research?
Will people need to know this?
Is it too much? Too little? Too personal? Too general?
But I had one rule: Come what may, this gets published every Thursday night.
It didn’t matter if I was overthinking the topic or unsure if people would like it.
The tiny experiment was: publish consistently, and observe.
The beauty is: you’re not committing for life.
You give it a time frame, 2 weeks, 2 months.
After that, you decide: Proceed, Pause, or Pivot.
Most importantly, believe in your agency. It’s okay to be wrong. “I can figure it out” serves us better than “Is this the right choice?”