Mohamad-Ali Salloum is a Pharmacist and science writer. He loves simplifying science to the general public and healthcare students through words and illustrations. When he's not working, you can usually find him in the gym, reading a book, or learning a new skill.
Why Overthinking Feels Productive...But Isn't?
Mohamad-Ali Salloum, PharmD • May 19, 2026
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We’ve all been there.
It’s 11:00 PM. You’re a pharmacy student, a CRA, or a healthcare professional staring at your laptop. The task is clear—but instead of acting, your brain launches into a mental marathon.
- You simulate outcomes
- You replay conversations
- You imagine worst-case scenarios
By midnight, nothing is written, no decision is made… yet you feel exhausted.
Overthinking feels like productivity because it uses the same mental energy as real work.
🧠 What is overthinking?
In psychology, overthinking is called rumination —a pattern of repetitive thinking about problems without actually solving them.
The key difference:
- ✅ Productive thinking → Leads to action
- ❌ Overthinking → Loops without progress
⚙️ The “Mental Spinning Wheel”
Your brain has two key players:
- Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) → planning, decision-making
- Amygdala → emotional alarm system
During real productivity:
- The PFC works in a clear, structured way
During overthinking:
- Your emotional brain keeps saying: “This matters!”
- Your thinking brain keeps analyzing… without stopping
It’s like revving a car engine at full speed… while the car is still parked.
🔁 The Real Problem: Your Brain Gets Stuck
Overthinking activates something called your “default mode” —the part of your brain responsible for:
- Replaying the past
- Imagining the future
- Thinking about yourself
When this system gets overactive:
- You don’t move forward
- You don’t take action
- You just keep looping
📍 Real-Life Scenarios
📚 Pharmacy Student
You spend 45 minutes analyzing a rare side effect instead of finishing your chapter.
Feels like thorough study → Actually low-yield thinking.
🧪 Clinical Research Associate
You analyze a small discrepancy for an hour instead of sending a quick query.
Feels like diligence → Actually delays execution.
🏥 Healthcare Professional
After a shift, you replay conversations:
- “Did I say that right?”
- “Did they misunderstand me?”
This is post-event rumination—linked to stress and poor sleep.
⚠️ Why Overthinking Backfires
- ❌ Impairs problem-solving
- ❌ Consumes mental energy
- ❌ Increases stress
- ❌ Reduces performance
More thinking does NOT equal better results.
✅ Productive Thinking vs Overthinking
- Productive: Leads to decisions → progress
- Overthinking: Endless loops → no action
🚀 How to Break the Loop
- 80% Rule: Accept “good enough” decisions
- Time-boxing: Think for 10 mins, then act
- Action first: Action creates clarity
💡 Final Thought
Overthinking is not laziness—it’s a misfiring system.
Your brain is working hard… just not in the right direction.
🧠 Interactive Quiz: Are You Solving or Spinning?
References:
- Klonsky ED, May AM. Thinking too much: rumination and psychopathology. World Psychiatry. 2021. 1
- Wong SMY, Chen EYH, Lee MCY, et al. Rumination as a transdiagnostic phenomenon. Brain Sci. 2023. 2
- Tamm G, Koster EHW, Hoorelbeke K. Multiple paths to rumination. Sci Rep. 2024. 8
- Zhao JJ, Yu XL, Lu YJ. Rumination harmfulness meta-analysis. Int J Cogn Behav Ther. 2025. 7
- Aldao A, McLaughlin KA, et al. Rumination and stress response. J Exp Psychopathol. 2014. 6
- Babcock E, Mohiyeddini C. Rumination in medical students. Oakland Univ. 5
- Hamilton JP, Farmer AS, Fogelman P, Gotlib IH. Depressive rumination and DMN. Biol Psychiatry. 2011.
- Nolen-Hoeksema S, Wisco BE, Lyubomirsky S. Rethinking rumination.
- Perspect Psychol Sci 2008.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mohamad-Ali Salloum, PharmD
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