Overthinking is India's new normal: 81% Indians say they overthink for 3 hours daily

Digital stress, social media anxiety, and workplace second-guessing dominate daily life across generations, regions, and professions. From menu meltdowns to story-posting stress—overthinking is now India's favourite pastime (Image: Pexels)

Ever been paused before hitting send? Or have you spent the entire day replaying your one-word reply from your boss in your head? You're not alone. An interesting study by Center Fresh and YouGov suggests that overthinking has snuck into becoming a national habit, deeply ingrained in our digital lives, daily options, and social dynamics.

The India Overthinking Report, based on a pan-India survey that encompasses Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, shows 81% of Indians admit to overthinking for at least three hours in a day. For one out of every four persons, it's nearly constant. And, it's not necessarily about life-changing scenarios. Sometimes deciding what to eat or whether to reply to a text, or even post a story on Instagram, starts that spiral.

One-word boss replies? Instant anxiety

The report shows that 42% of Indians assume the worst when their boss sends a curt "Ok"—and this reaction is equally common among the two genders. Now with all the Slack pings and WhatsApp work chats, even being succinct carries emotional baggage.

More thought goes into the food order than voting

Indecisiveness plays out in the dinner table too. According to the report, 63% of Indian respondents say the choice of a dish in a restaurant is more stressful than the choice of a political leader, and this figure rises to 69% in the South.

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Social media: A silent pressure cooker

Posting a story on Instagram or WhatsApp is anything but casual. Sixty-one per cent of Indians, mostly Gen Z and women, spend more than five hours a week overthinking whether their story is "good enough." From the right filter to the right caption and the timing itself, sharing content has become a heavily curated, anxiety-ridden activity.

Even acting weary is another emotional layer-many millennials admit they delayed viewing stories just so they would not appear "too eager." The report reveals an intense need to look chill-though they are feeling anything but.

When in doubt, ask Google-or ChatGPT

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Tech is now the therapist for the overthinking generation. A third of Indians say they have turned to either Google or ChatGPT to decode cryptic messages or pick the right gift, and only 13% say they have never sought digital help.

“Through the Center Fresh India Overthinking Report, we aimed to decode how overthinking manifests in today’s hyper-connected world—and the insights are eye-opening. Whether it’s second-guessing a message or overanalysing a dinner choice, overthinking has quietly become an everyday habit, cutting across ages and regions. By spotlighting this mental clutter, the report sparks a much-needed conversation about the importance of everyday mental clarity,” said Gunjan Khetan, Director of Marketing, Perfetti Van Melle India.