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New-age problems require new-age solutions. ‘Retardmaxxing’, a response to excessive thinking, has become viral in the latest edition of What’s Hot Online. The term is a response to a modern and very real frustration: feeling stuck, despite wanting progress. The idea behind the term is simple: stop waiting and start doing. Instead of endlessly planning, the focus should be on starting imperfectly and immediately. Do the work and adjust along the way. Let action, not overanalysis shape the outcome. People argue that it is not about being reckless, or ignoring the consequences. It’s choosing mental gridlock over momentum. The philosophy resonates because chronically overthinking is familiar. Overanalyzing conversations, replaying past decisions, and spiraling into ‘what ifs?’ can feel productive. Excessive analysis can increase stress, disrupt sleep, reduce focus and strain relationships. The cycle drains mental energy and leaves people emotionally tangled. But from a psychology perspective, why are so many people prone to chronic overthinking.Sonal Khangarot is a licensed rehabilitation counsellor, psychotherapist at The Answer Room. She tells indianexpress.com that “from a psychological standpoint, chronic overthinking develops often as an unconscious coping mechanisms. The brain believes that by analysing a situation repeatedly, it can avoid pain, failure or rejection. Overthinking can cause mental traffic to get stuck in loops of the past or future. This pattern is also known as analysis paralysis and gives the illusion of preparedness and control. For people with anxiety, trauma or insecure attachment styles she says overthinking temporarily shields from uncertainty because it keeps them mentally busy. “However it draws attention away from the moment, increasing stress and indecision. Over time, your brain learns to worry more than act. Breaking this cycle involves learning emotional regulation, tolerance for uncertainty, and grounding methods that gently bring the attention back to now. Khangarot explains that anxiety is a result of avoidance. When we delay taking action, our brain interprets it as dangerous and increases fear. “Taking small, deliberate steps creates corrective experience that shows the mind that the task is manageable. This reduces catastrophic thinking and builds self-efficacy. It also interrupts rumination cycles, shifting attention away from imagined outcomes and towards real feedback in the moment. Healthy action still requires basic reflection on safety, values, and consequences. As long as you combine awareness, realistic planning and emotional regulation, starting before you are ready can reduce anxiety by breaking the paralysis. Story continues below. Strategies to help people balance thoughtful preparation with decisive action Evidence based therapies offer practical methods to balance planning and action. Khangarot says, “From Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, use time-limited thought: give yourself 10-15 minute to plan, write pros/cons and then commit to a small step. Behavioural Activation helps break inertia through scheduling manageable tasks. Gradual exposure builds confidence by taking small steps instead of waiting for certainty. She adds, “From ACT, clarify core values before taking ‘values based micro-actions,’ even when anxiety or perfectionism is present. DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) teaches a skill called the Wise mind — pause and regulate emotions by breathing or grounding. Then decide using logic and feelings. The combination of thoughtful reflection and small, consistent actions prevents both impulsivity as well as paralysis.

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Kalki Koechlin’s battle with insomnia. Source: Express photo by Nirmal harindran. Heartbreak is often described only as an emotional experience. But its effects can go beyond feelings. When the mind is stressed, sleep is one of first things that is affected. Kalki Koechlin, an actress, recently discussed her experience on a podcast. She described how heartbreak caused months of insomnia, and how she struggled to feel grounded. Her nights became difficult, marked by repeated wakings and an inability of falling back to sleep. “I could not sleep. I would wake up around 2 or 3 am and play the guitar or do something to occupy me, because there was just no way to go back to sleep,” shared she. Over time, the lack rest began to blur boundaries between sleepiness and exhaustion. She described feeling disoriented, even during the day. This was especially true when her work required her full attention. “On days when I had to go to work, I felt like I was in a state of dream or awake. I was confused and wondered, “Is this happening, or am i still asleep?” It went on for about four months,” said she. The brain interprets loss as a reason to remain alert. Stress hormones are released, the system remains on and the natural drift to sleep is interrupted. Sleep is dependent on a feeling of safety. Heartbreak takes away that sense of safety. “What keeps people stuck, is the mind’s unwillingness to let go. “There’s constant replaying and questioning to try to make sense of the situation. In the clinic people often complain that they are tired but can’t’shut their heads’. That’s exactly what’s happening. He explains that the mind is still trying resolve something that feels incomplete. Over time, he has noticed that sleep itself becomes lighter. “Deep restorative sleep reduces. This is not an easy thing to correct for some, especially those who are already sensitive to stress. The night begins to feel more like a place of tension than rest. The second layer is the worry about not being able to sleep. Then, insomnia is not just about heartbreak. It becomes a pattern that the system has learned. Sleep cannot be forced. The more you try and control it, you become more alert. Raj stresses that the focus must be on calming down the system that is preventing sleep. He mentions that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia remains one the most effective approaches. It resets both habits and anxiety about not sleeping which often keeps the loop going. “How you end the day is equally important. A predictable wind-down is important. It is important to reduce stimulation, avoid emotionally heavy conversations at night and create a routine that signals the system to go to sleep. By setting aside time to write down or process your thoughts in the evening, you can prevent them from spilling over into the night. Consistency is the key. Even after a bad night, waking up at the same hour every day helps to reset the rhythm. The expert concludes that sleep returns when the body feels stable again, and not when it’s pushed.

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Rakesh shares glimpses of the ‘den’ he calls home in Farah Khan’s new vlog. (Image source: Farah Khan/YouTube). Veteran actor Rakesh has been making waves since his stint in Dhurandhar where he played Jameel Jamali a Pakistani politician. This has sparked a meme trend that is sweeping social media. Farah Khan, a filmmaker and choreographer, visited the actor’s Mumbai home to provide glimpses into his personal space. In a video posted on her YouTube channel Farah arrived with her cook, Dilip, dressed as Ranveer’s Hamza Ali Mazari. The home tour starts with the entrance door decorated with plants, showpieces and a nameplate.Living room featuring Buddha-themed artThe entrance opens up into the spacious living area, which is distinguished by its warm, lived in charm. The room is characterized by tropical-upholstered wooden armchairs, two glass-topped centre tables, Buddha-themed art, leafy wallpaper and hanging plants. Rakesh Bedi’s living space (Image Source: Farah Khan/YouTube) The kitchen has the same inviting feel with wooden cabinetry and vintage details. Rakesh Bedi’s kitchen tour (Image Source: Farah K Khan/YouTube). Rakesh Bedi’s personal den. The walls are covered with portraits of Bedi’s fans, and a shelf shows off the awards he’s received over the years. He said that photos, souvenirs, and keepsakes could help people create a sense stability by reminding them of their personal identity outside of work. Story continues below this advertisement”The objects can serve as silent sources for strength and sentimental values and emotional control, which helps them create a home of comfort and belonging,” he explained. Dr Krishna also explained that placing plants near entrances can create a calming effect. He said that they create a smooth transition between the outside and the inside, and offer a sense peace, order and emotional safety, while symbolising growth, positivity and peace in many cultures. He said that such symbols could create a peaceful environment, encourage reflection, and reduce stress by serving visual reminders to take a break in a busy day. From a design standpoint, they can help create a peaceful corner or contemplative atmosphere. In many homes, meaning and ritual elements create peace through their connection with the object,” explained Dr Krishna.

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It may seem simple to check your blood pressure at the comfort of your own home. Just wrap the cuff around the arm, press the button and take note of the readings. According to Dr PramodTripathi, even small habits can cause readings to be distorted. In an Instagram video he listed “Extremely Common 10 Mistakes People Make While Checking BP At Home, Telling Them From Bottom To Top For Easy Memory (sic). His advice is surprisingly useful but easy to overlook. He begins with posture. “Number 1, keeping your feet in the air is incorrect. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Number two, crisscrossing your feet can also increase your BP. “Number 3, keep your bladder full. Always empty your bladder before you check your BP.” Even the back support can affect readings. The number four mistake is to keep your back straight and upright. You should keep your spine relaxed. Clothing and cuff placement is another common mistake. “Number five: Always fold the clothes under the cuff. Number six, place the tube on the inside and not the outside. Number seven, support your arm at the level of the heart. Not below, nor above. “Number 8, avoid talking when you are taking your blood pressure. Number nine, you must drink tea or coffee at least 30 minutes before checking your blood pressure. Number 10, not being stressed, or having exercised after. You must be relaxed. When taking BP, take two readings and average them. The ideal BP is below 130/80.” “The upper reading is called systolic,” he explains. If your BP is rising, which is diastolic, this could be a sign that the arteries are becoming stiffer as you age. If your lower BP rises, this is diastolic. This means that the smaller arteries away from the heart also get tighter due to more insulin or sympathetic nerve system stimulation. This is stress or sodium. If the difference between your upper and lower BPs is greater than 60, it could lead to heart problems. Let me know if you need any more videos on managing blood pressure. But before you do, avoid these 10 mistakes.”Story Continues Below This AdHow much can small errors in posture and positioning alter blood pressure measurements?Kanikka malhotra is a consultant dietician and diabetes education. She told indianexpress.com that “Posture errors and positioning errors can drastically change home blood pressure results, often by 5-20mmHg. That’s enough for hypertension to be misdiagnosed or masked.” Slouching can increase systolic blood pressure by 6-10mmHg because of increased cardiac workload. Crossed or dangling legs can increase systolic pressure by 4-8 mmHg due to the reduced venous return. Hydrostatic pressure can cause readings to spike by 10-20 mmHg when an arm is positioned below the heart level.
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She says that the most important factor is to keep the feet flat on a floor with the knees and thighs at 90 degrees and the back supported by a chair. “Always use an upper arm that is bare and positioned at the heart level. No tight clothing should be worn.” A proper setup can help prevent false positives of 15-30%, which allows for accurate self-monitoring,” says Malhotra. If you have consistently high readings at home, it is time to consult a doctor. Early intervention can help prevent serious health problems such as stroke or heart disease. Check your blood pressure two times daily (morning & evening) after you have sat quietly for 5 minutes. Seek medical advice if the weekly average is higher than 135/85mmHg or if readings are frequently above 140/90mmHg. This can include lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes, increased activity or medication. If you have a reading over 180/120 mmHg seek immediate emergency care, especially if it is accompanied by dizziness or severe headaches, chest pains, or breathlessness,” says Malhotra. She recommends taking readings twice a day for a week to distinguish between a temporary spike due to stress, caffeine or measurement errors and sustained hypertension. Calculate the average and ignore obvious outliers. Temporary spikes are more likely to fluctuate, and correlate with triggers. However, sustained hypertension remains elevated under ideal conditions. “Keep a written journal to identify patterns, and share it with the doctor. If clinic anxiety is suspected, they may recommend ambulatory monitoring (24-hour monitoring). Early detection is crucial. Avoid self-adjusting medications without professional guidance. Disclaimer: This article was based on public domain information and/or experts we spoke with. Consult your doctor before beginning any new routine.

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Pooja on being single and quitting alcohol (Source: Express Archive Photo)After her divorce from her husband in 2014, Pooja has spoken openly about living a life which is both independent and deeply satisfying. She said that her journey was “glorious” when reflecting on it. I am enjoying being single. I have been in relationships since I was 16 years old. I am free as a crow now. I am the captain my own ship. I am the captain of my own ship. I love the world so much. I have cats, friends, books, and my craft. I am a nomad and I travel often. I want to be free to grab my bag and leave whenever I please. I discovered gymming when I was 50. My gym is now my temple. Her words capture the shift that many people experience in later life, moving from a relationship-defined identity to a self-directed, joyous sense of purpose. She told Times of India that she will always be someone to celebrate love. I have friends who have been married 40 years, and others who have been divorcés four times. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. For the first time, I feel complete. It took me a while to realize that it’s not just about finding the perfect person, but also about being the perfect person. I stopped drinking alcohol eight and half years ago. It was easy to quit alcohol, but once you do, you realize what you were running from when you used that drink as a painkiller. Love is no exception. “How does long-term dependency on a relationship shape one’s self-identity? Gurleen Baruah is an Existential Psychotherapist with That Culture Thing. She told indianexpress.com that there is no fixed way to look at this. Everyone is different, so everyone will respond differently. “People who leave long-term relationships for singledom do so for their own reasons.” She notes that, in this case, Pooja Bhatt shared, it reflects a growth in happiness, and a focus on quality relationships, rather than simply being in one. It really depends on where the person is at in their life, what they want and what feels healthy for them. I’m not sure if being “complete” should be a goal that is set in stone. Baruah says that humans “are wired to experience emotions through life; there is an ebb-and-flow.””We have the hedonic cycle, where happiness and satisfaction return to a baseline. Completeness may not be permanent or even necessary. Baruah says it may be about being able sit with uncertainty while still feeling okay within yourself. “There is awareness.” After awareness and acknowledgment, you can begin to change. This change is about taking control of your life, making decisions with intention, and developing an internal locus-of-control rather than relying externally on ways to cope.