The Overthinking Report 2025: Do You Think Too Much About Thinking Too Much?

Do you spend hours deciding if an Instagram story is worth posting? Does a single-word message from your boss make you second-guess everything?

If these sound familiar, you're not alone. Overthinking has become so deeply embedded in everyday life that it feels like a shared experience. To understand this better, Center Fresh, in collaboration with YouGov, surveyed 2,010 urban Indians across Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X between June and July 2025. The study, titled “Decoding the Emotional and Behavioural Triggers of Overthinking”, explored how overthinking influences four key aspects of life: food and lifestyle, digital behaviour, relationships, and work.

Food and Lifestyle: Small Choices, Big Mental Loops

According to the findings, 81% of Indians overthink for at least three hours a day, often replaying conversations, imagining worst-case scenarios, or fixating on others’ opinions. Interestingly, 63% said they find it harder to decide what to eat than whom to vote for. Nearly one in three regularly imagine detailed future scenarios or “ideate” outcomes, typically when alone such as in the bathroom or just before bed. One in four feel regret or FOMO after making purchases, especially among Gen X, who tend to dwell on alternatives they might have missed.

Digital Behaviour: The Pressure to Post (or Not)

The report also points to the growing cognitive load of social media. 35% of users said they take up to five hours to decide whether to upload an Instagram story. 59% frequently doubt whether a post is worth sharing, while 29% deliberately avoid viewing others' stories too soon. For 19%, being among the first to view a story feels like a sign of over-eagerness. These patterns suggest that even casual online actions are increasingly influenced by internal hesitation and perceived social judgment.

Relationships: Over analysis in Everyday Interactions

Overthinking extends to social interactions as well. 60% of respondents said a simple message like “Can we talk?” immediately triggers anxiety, often leading to over-analysis of past actions. 55% overthink what to wear before a meeting, and 56% rehearse how they will sound or speak. Choosing a meeting spot causes indecision for 49%, while 57% admit to dissecting compliments in detail. Relationship concerns are especially high among younger participants; 45% of Millennials and 43% of Gen Z worry about the stability of their romantic lives.

Work and Communication: Reading Between Every Line

The workplace is another common setting for overthinking. 42% interpret deleted messages from their managers as signs of trouble. A brief “OK” from a superior is enough to cause concern for 23%. Many respondents also reported regularly imagining alternative career paths two out of three have considered switching jobs, with 10% exploring three or more options. 76% of individuals prefer to revise written communication until it feels flawless, while 70% particularly Gen Z and Millennials delay work under the guise of planning, which often turns into procrastination.

Final Thoughts

This survey makes one thing clear: overthinking is now a routine part of urban life. It certainly affects how people make decisions, and interact with others. Recognising these behaviours is essential to manage it better and to ensure that thought doesn’t come at the cost of action.