How to Stop Overthinking 如何停止过度思考

Grace Fleming 景一

Are you guilty1 of dwelling2 on a problem much longer than you should？ Many people get caught up in overthinking problems from time to time， but some people make a habit of it. This habit can affect grades because students get so caught up in thinking mode that they never get to a good solution.

你是否因为在一个问题上花的时间比你应该花的时间更长而感到内疚？很多人有时对一些问题思虑过度，但有些人却养成了这样的习惯。这种习惯会影响学生的成绩，因为学生陷入了思维模式的泥潭，他们永远无法找到个好的解决方案。

Some people who overthink tend to get stuck in analysis3 mode. They will think over a situation again and again. That situation is sometimes called analysis paralysis4. Its also one form of procrastination5.

有些想得太多的人往往会陷入分析模式。他们会一遍又一遍地仔细考虑某个情况。这种情况有时被称为“分析瘫痪”。这也是拖延症的一种形式。

Analysis Paralysis

Its not difficult to imagine why this could be unhelpful or even harmful to academic6 work.

Students who face certain kinds of test questions are in danger of analysis paralysis.

●Complex questions can cause you to get stuck thinking about a single aspect of the question and ignore others.

●You will be at a loss when trying to decide how to start writing an answer to the questions because there are so many options7. This can be a time-waster.

●Long multiple-choice8 questions can also cause analysis paralysis. You may try to read too much into the question and spin yourself into total confusion.

●You can also overthink their choices in a multiple-choice situation and read more into each choice than you should.

If the situations above sound familiar， you are like many other students. You are also wise to recognize that this is a potential9 problem for you.

分析癱痪

不难想象为什么这对学习毫无帮助甚至有害。遇到某些类型的试题，学生有分析瘫痪的危险。

●复杂的问题会让你卡在思考问题的某一方面而忽略其他方面。

●在试着决定如何开始写问题的答案时，你会不知所措，因为有太多的选择。这可能会浪费时间。

●较长的选择题也会导致分析瘫痪。你可能因过多地解读这个问题，使自己陷入一片茫然。

●你也可能对选择题的选项过度思考，并对每一个选项进行过多的解读。

如果上面的情况听起来很熟悉，那么你和其他许多学生一样。你也应该意识到这对你来说是个潜在的问题。

Stop Overthinking

Overthinking during a test can really hurt！ The big risk you face is failing to complete the test because you think too much and cant make a decision. Go into the test with a time management plan.

As soon as you get the test， do a quick assessment10 to determine how much time you should spend on each section. The open-ended essay answers are the most time-consuming11.

When trying to answer an open-ended test question， you must give yourself time to brainstorm， but also give yourself a time limit. Once you run out of time， you must stop thinking and go into action.

If youre facing a multiple-choice， dont read too much into the questions and answers. Read the question once， then （without looking at your options） think of a good answer. Then see if this matches one thats listed. If it does， choose it and move on！

停止过度思考

考试时过度思考真的很要命！你面临的最大风险是不能做完试题，因为你想得太多，无法作出决定。因此，参加考试时要有时间管理计划。

一旦你拿到了试题，就做一个快速的评估，以确定你在每个部分应该花多长时间。回答开放式的论述题最费时。

在回答一个开放式的测试问题时，你必须给自己时间进行头脑风暴，但同时也要给自己一个时间限制。一旦你时间用完了，就必须停止思考，开始动笔。

如果你面对的是选择题，不要对问题和答案进行过多的解读。读一次这个问题，然后（不看选项）想出一个合理的答案。然后看看这个答案是否与列出的选项之一相符。如果相符，就选择这一项并继续做后面的题目！

【Notes】

1. guilty [     ] adj. 有罪的;内疚的

2. dwell [     ] vi. 细想某事

3. analysis [     ] n. 分析

4. paralysis [     ] n. 麻痹;无力;停顿

5. procrastination [       ] n. 拖延;拖延症

6. academic [      ] adj. 学术的;学校的

7. option [      ] n. 選项

8. multiple-choice [     ] adj. 多项选择的

9. potential [     ] adj. 潜在的，可能的

10. assessment [     ] n. 评定;评估

11. time-consuming [     ] adj. 耗时的