Younger Generations Do Too Much Overthinking

A recent study in Britain found that the biggest overthinkers are Gen Z — the generation born between 1997 and 2012. Growing up with social media and texting, they have plenty to overthink, including “If I use an emoji at the end of my sentence, do I need a period?” “Are people secretly laughing at me because I didn’t use a period?” and “Was it appropriate for me to post about my missed period?”

Overthinking means thinking excessively about something, replaying it in our minds and analyzing it for hours or even days. The study, consisting of a survey of 2,000 adults, found that 69 percent of Gen Z and 63 percent of millennials admit to regularly overthinking. In comparison, only 38 percent of baby boomers say they overthink things. They don’t even overthink the dress pants they wore to the gym.

The study was commissioned by Wrigley’s Extra gum, so it’s probably not too scientific. But at least it gives us something to chew on.

The Daily Mirror printed a list of the top situations that Gen Z overthink. Here are the top five:

(1) Over-analyzing embarrassing moments. Everyone has embarrassing moments, but some people forget about them within hours, while others dwell on them for days or even months. “Why didn’t I avoid drinking on the plane, so I wouldn’t have to use the lavatory? And why didn’t I make sure it was my wife next to me before sitting in the wrong seat and kissing another man? And why didn’t I apologize properly, instead of yelling, ‘Stop complaining! I bet that’s the best kiss you’ve ever had.’”

(2) Things I didn’t say, but wish I had. This may be a common regret, but it’s probably better than the reverse: Things I said, but wish I hadn’t. I certainly have more regrets, in my personal relationships, about things I said than things I didn’t say. But many people have trouble expressing their thoughts. Sometimes it’s three words they have trouble saying: “I love you.” But quite often, it’s one word they want to say, but just can’t: NO. Everyone should use this short, but powerful word more often. We should say “no” to authoritarianism, “no” to discrimination, “no” to the drunken stranger kissing us on the plane.

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

(3) Text message or voice note being left on ‘read.’ If someone read your message but didn’t reply, you may spend an eternity wondering why. Did you say something inappropriate? Did you use the wrong emoji? Did you use a single exclamation mark instead of three? Perhaps you are just not important enough for them to bother replying to you, especially since a new season of “Love Island” just dropped. Of course, it’s quite possible that they intended to reply but got distracted — by something more important than a reality show. You will probably get a reply as soon as the Knicks game is over.

(4) Worrying about how text messages I’ve sent will be perceived. It’s common for text messages to be misunderstood. That’s why people use emojis. A laughing face conveys that the message is funny or meant as a joke. But even emojis can be misunderstood. What does the bandaged heart convey? ❤️‍🩹Does it mean that your broken heart is mending? Or that you’re off to med school to study cardiology?

(5) What someone meant by a short reply to a message (e.g. OK.). Many people respond to a message with a single word, but there’s a big difference between “okay” and “great!” I often respond to my wife with “okay,” but it’s usually a response to a mundane request such as “Make sure the stove is off.” If my wife happens to write, “I just got two tickets to Jimmy O. Yang’s comedy show,” I had better not say, “Okay”; otherwise she’ll be going with someone else. The correct response is something like this: “You’re kidding!!!😮I love him 😍He’s hilarious 😂How did you manage to get tickets? 👏👏👏”