I think we can all agree that anxiety is everywhere around us. We live in a highly unstable world, and while it’s natural to want to prepare for what’s ahead, overplanning every possible step will only invite more anxiety.
If you are stuck in the loop of overthinking about the future, working on answering every "what if," yet still feel stuck and even more anxious, this blog is for you.
Overplanning keeps us trapped in a cycle of uncertainty. Instead of being present in the moment and taking meaningful action, we become consumed by mapping out endless possibilities and contingencies. We spend more time forecasting than doing, leading to stagnation and frustration. Rather than providing clarity, excessive planning can create a loop of second-guessing, doubt, and heightened anxiety—keeping us stuck in the very unknown we are trying to control.
Before diving headfirst into planning, it’s worth asking yourself: What will planning every step do for me? And if I realistically reflect on life, how much actually goes according to plan? More often than not, the answer reveals that excessive planning doesn’t provide certainty; it just creates more stress.
What’s underneath the need to plan everything? Is it a lack of trust in yourself to handle whatever comes your way? Is it the belief that if you can control every detail, then you will be safe—when in reality, that is just the illusion of safety? The truth is, no amount of planning can fully eliminate uncertainty, but building self-trust and resilience can help us navigate whatever arises with greater confidence.
Anxiety can be helpful—it pushes us to prepare, to think ahead, and to mitigate risks. But where it stops being helpful is when we believe that our power lies in trying to control every single outcome by meticulously planning every step ahead of time. This is the illusion of control.
A quote that resonates deeply with this concept is from Elizabeth Gilbert: “You are afraid of surrender because you don’t want to lose control. But you never had control; all you had was anxiety.”
Surrender doesn’t mean we do nothing and accept defeat; in fact, it is the opposite. It is about recognizing what is within our control and taking meaningful action toward our goals. Instead of exhausting ourselves trying to control every outcome, we can focus our energy on what we can influence in the present moment.
This isn’t to say we shouldn’t plan at all, of course, having a sense of direction is valuable. But rather than obsessing over every possible scenario and attempting to construct a rigid roadmap for an uncertain future, it’s more effective to focus on the next right step. Instead of overplanning, we need to set up a compass.
Do we have a clear sense of direction? Do we know the general path we want to take? Instead of planning each tiny detail, we can focus on alignment—taking intentional steps that move us forward without getting lost in an overwhelming web of hypothetical “what-ifs.”
A more effective way to approach this is by asking:
Does this step bring me closer to where I want to be?
Is this step moving in the right direction?
Can I be at peace with learning from this step, no matter the outcome?
By shifting our focus from rigid planning to intentional action, we create space for growth, adaptability, and ultimately, peace of mind. Instead of letting anxiety drive us into a cycle of overplanning, we can use it as a guide—acknowledging its presence, but not letting it dictate our every move.
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