RWAnswers: Overthinking Minor Mistakes 

“How to deal with overthinking mistakes (even minor ones) at work?”

Olga Fedorova, psychotherapist and member of the International Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapy:

First of all, I would like to support you. It really can be difficult when tension resulting from thoughts of mistakes or errors does not let go during the whole working day, and maybe even after hours. The very nature of such feelings may be related to the fact that this is a very important and valuable activity for you.

Try to look a little more closely at your feelings and ask yourself: "What am I thinking about now, what does this mistake mean to me?". It often happens that behind your emotional struggle there is a conviction that there should be no mistakes at all. But is it even possible? Underneath these feelings may be your thinking about catastrophic scenarios. If you notice that you are thinking in terms of "all" or "nothing" (either perfect or nothing), try to support yourself, because mistakes are a normal part of any process. If you notice that you are thinking about very scary scenarios that could happen because of possible mistakes, check the facts: is the mistake really that catastrophic? And of course, do not forget to rest and switch to other important areas of your life.

Valeria Grebenkova, Associate at Gherson Solicitors LLP (London):

If you are overthinking a mistake you made, look at it this way. It is very good for your supervisor’s ego to see that you are making mistakes: after all they should feel they have something to teach you (surprise: lawyers like to give lectures). When you are a grey hair lawyer yourself you will remember with a smile the times when you misspelled opposing counsel’s name. On a more serious note, remember that mistakes are inevitable. And no one really expects you to be mistake-free (even on partner level). Unless it is a truly big strategic failure (which, believe me, is rare), you will not be remembered by your mistakes but by your ability to handle them and to learn from them. There is no better way to demonstrate integrity other than to face a mistake proudly, deal with it and move on.