Feeling Trapped in Your Own Mind? Here’s How to Break Free from Overthinking

Inside Nat's Notebook - Real Reflections for Real Change

Hey you

We live in the age of busy. Busy schedules. Busy minds. Busy bodies.

But here’s the truth no one tells you:

 “Busy doesn’t start with doing more, it starts with thinking more.” - Nat

And thinking? It’s exhausting! 🤯

Ever had a day where you didn’t actually do much, yet you feel wiped out? Like your brain ran a marathon while your body barely moved?

It’s because of this:

Being lost in thought, thinking constantly about things to do, what’s been done, what could have been done, what was done wrong, what should have been done but wasn’t, what others did, are doing, should do, must do...WOW! It’s not just tiring. It’s an energy heist.

Now imagine running many of these at the same time. On full blast. That was me at my worst. Stacking thought upon thought, my mind running a thousand different worry lines all at once—like I was supersizing my stress system.

I had become a prisoner of my own mind, dragged wherever it wanted, whenever it wanted. And my body? Completely wiped out, refusing to play the game anymore.

Trapped in My Own Mind

My body, done with the endless mind games, felt as heavy as lead. Worn out? Exhausted? Those words didn’t even come close. Some days, I could barely sit up.

My mind? Running at 100mph. Loud. Relentless. Unforgiving. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't rest.

And the cruellest part? 

The very thing keeping me stuck, thinking, was also draining me further.

I started questioning, Has it been so long since I rested that I’ve forgotten how?

Turns out? Yes.

My body had spent so long in fight-or-flight that it had burnt through every last reserve. I wasn’t just tired, I was fried. And the worst part? I couldn’t even think my way out of it.

The Lie We’ve Been Sold About Burnout

Let’s clear this up:

Burnout isn’t just doing too much. Burnout is your brain stuck in emergency mode. When your nervous system is trapped in survival, your brain acts like a paranoid bodyguard on caffeine.

🔴 Something’s wrong.

🔴 What if I messed up?

🔴 What if I didn’t do enough?

🔴 I have to do this now.

Your body believes every word—so it stays locked in high alert mode.

The result?

❌ Your energy tanks empty faster than you can refill them.

❌ Your mind won’t shut up—so your body never gets to fully rest.

❌ You feel exhausted yet wired at the same time.

And let me tell you, it’s a trap. Because when your brain is running the show, it convinces you that the way out is to think more.

Spoiler: It’s not.

The way out isn’t more thinking—it’s shifting your state.

OK, Geek Moment, Let’s Look Inside Your System

Every time you overthink, your brain triggers a cortisol spike. Cortisol is great when you’re running from a tiger (we all know that story, right?) but when it’s on 24/7?

🚨 It drains your energy faster than a phone on 1% battery.

🚨 It locks your nervous system in stress mode.

🚨 It keeps you stuck in mental overdrive, even when your body is screaming for rest.

This is why I wasn’t even moving, but I felt like I’d run four marathons and gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson. My thoughts were hijacking my nervous system and my body was paying the price.

So the real question isn’t “How do I stop overthinking?”

It’s “How do I stop my nervous system from treating my thoughts like threats?”

Breaking the Loop (Even When You Have No Energy)

When I was at my worst, I had no energy for long meditations or deep inner work.

I needed a way to disrupt the cycle without more effort.

Here’s where I started—and where you can too:

1️⃣ The Power of a Deep Sigh

Right now, take a deep breath in—and let out a long, slow sigh.

That sigh isn’t just a breath—it’s a nervous system reset. It signals to your brain: We’re safe. It’s okay to stop scanning for danger now.

2️⃣ Shift from Thinking to Sensing

Overthinking traps you in your head. A simple way to break out? Name three things you can sense right now:

🧡 Feel your feet on the floor.

🧡 Notice the temperature of the air.

🧡 Listen for the furthest sound you can hear.

This pulls you out of your thoughts and back into your body—where calm lives.

3️⃣ Hum Your Way to Calm

Gently hum for 30 seconds—any sound will do.

The vibration stimulates your vagus nerve, signalling to your nervous system that it’s safe to relax. It was one of the first things that helped me quiet the multiple lines of noise in my mind. It’s so simple, yet so powerful—especially when your brain feels like it won’t shut up.

Your Mind is Either Running You or You’re Running It

I spent 18 months trapped in bed before I understood:

✅ I wasn’t lazy.

✅ I wasn’t broken.

✅ I was burnt out from my own brain.

But here’s the good news:

If my brain could get me stuck there, it could also get me unstuck.

And it started with one shift:

🧡 Instead of thinking harder, I learned how to change my state.

Because when you change how your nervous system feels, your mind quiets. Your energy returns. And that’s when everything changes.

#RebelMoment 

For the next 24 hours, don’t try to think your way to clarity.

Instead, break the overthinking cycle with small, tangible shifts:

1️⃣ Deep sigh.

2️⃣ Shift from thinking to sensing.

3️⃣ Hum for 30 seconds. Use your favourite song, what have you got to lose? You might even enjoy it!

🧡 You don’t need to ‘fix’ your thoughts.

🧡 You don’t need to battle your mind.

🧡 You just need to shift your state.

The real rebellion? Choosing ease over mental overload.

Your Turn:

💬 Drop a comment below—what’s one small shift you can make today to quiet the noise? ⬇️

Curious to explore this more deeply? 📩 DM me if this resonates. No pressure, just a conversation.

Life feels lighter when your nervous system is your ally.

Stay Blessed!

Nat x

🧡 Your Burnout Bestie 🧡

Ready to Break Free from the Cycle of Overdoing + find your FLOW?

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About Nat

Nat Creasy, aka Your Burnout Bestie, doesn’t sugarcoat the hustle—she calls it out for what it is: an exhausting lie that’s making us all sick. As a Nervous System Mentor, Nat shows people how to break free from the cycle of exhaustion and overthinking, helping them operate from a place of power, flow, and clarity — meditation in motion.

She gets it. After 18 months knocked flat by burnout, Nat learned the hard way that constant striving is a trap. Now, she’s all about flow—teaching people that the real win isn’t about doing more; it’s about learning how to ride the waves of life with ease, in flow. Meditation In Motion. It’s about listening to your body, resetting your nervous system, and coming at life from a place of easeful power that fuels lasting success.

Tired of running on empty? It’s time to Reset Realign + Rise 

www.littlesoulshack.com