A new report by Center fresh and YouGov has uncovered a startling trend among Indians—overthinking dominates their daily lives, even in the most mundane moments. Titled the India Overthinking Report, the study found that 81% of Indians overthink for more than three hours a day, with one in four calling it a constant habit.
The report highlights a curious national mindset: 63% of Indians say deciding on food is more stressful than choosing a political leader, with 61% admitting they spend more time pondering a food order than national elections. This indecisiveness extends to digital life too, with nearly 32% fretting over whether an emoji might come off as “too much.”
In Shillong, this pattern holds strong among students and young professionals. Local eateries report customers often take longer to finalize orders, and cafes see young patrons agonizing over the ‘perfect’ social media post, echoing national concerns around self-image and digital anxiety. Interestingly, 42% of respondents panic when a boss replies with just “Ok,” and one-third now turn to Google or ChatGPT for emotional clarity. “Overthinking has become everyday clutter,” said Gunjan Khetan of Perfetti Van Melle India, urging Indians to “Dimaag Pe Rakho Lagaam.”