People Whose Brains Can't Slow Down Usually Say 10 Phrases In Casual Conversation
kaboompics.com | Pexels The typical brain processes much slower than we'd expect. But our body's sensory systems work almost 100 million times faster, gathering information around us all the time.
For people whose minds work faster than the average person's, and have an especially sensitive sensory system, their experience looks a lot different. Whether it's having a curious mind or being an anxious overthinker, you can spot people whose brains can't slow down by the unsuspecting phrases they use.
People often use these phrases because their brains can't slow down
1. 'Sorry, I'm here'
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When we zone out or daydream in conversations, it's sometimes a relatively positive experience. Yes, some people are planning for the future or reminiscing, but it's also a mental process that filters and processes information to make space in the brain.
For people who are constantly thinking, it's inevitable that they'll need a breather to process it all. So, even if it seems like they're being lazy or aren't fully engaged, they're likely thinking deeper than most.
They need to create space to be present, so their brains are exhausted from working overtime trying to figure out what's important to hold onto and what's not.
2. 'What about this?'
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Alongside their funny jokes and witty humor, intelligent people with quick minds tend to be fast decision-makers. Compared to those who need time to deliberate, these people can consider outcomes and predict the future to some extent in a much shorter amount of time.
They make suggestions and ask "What about this?" with new ideas before anyone else has a second thought. This also comes with a tendency to overthink and live anxious lives with all this information, but it can also be an asset.
3. 'This is intense'
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Unlike certain situations where someone comes to an answer quickly or solves a problem faster than everyone else, a person with a quick brain may experience intense emotions. They have all the information to inform those emotions, but still need the space to feel them in their body, instead of in their mind.
That's why you'll often hear phrases like "I just need a minute" or "this is all very intense" in vulnerable situations. Their brain can think through all these emotions and even spark new ones instantly, but to acknowledge and process them, they need to first feel them fully.
4. 'I just have a feeling'
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Oftentimes, the anxiety an overthinker experiences can mask as intuition because they don't always have the words to express their worry to others. It feels like an instinct, but instead of being a gut feeling, it comes across as an urgent worry in their mind. It's not a bodily feeling, but a rush of thoughts into their brain.
For someone wired to think about things in every way, even the worst-case scenarios doing them no favors, it can feel natural to use a phrase like this. Even if every rational part of them knows they just need to process their anxiety, they can't help but share it without any evidence to support their fears.
5. 'This reminds me of…'
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The most intelligent people aren't defined by what they know. It's their ability to think critically and connect the dots that actually serves them. They have quick minds and can think thoughtfully without needing a ton of space to dive deeper.
"This reminds me of" and "I went through something similar" are just a few examples of them piecing together experiences from the constant flow of information coming into their brains.
6. 'Sorry, that was off topic'
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Before everyone else has a chance to catch up, when someone has a brain that can't slow down, they're immediately on a new topic. They're the ones going off on seemingly unrelated tangents, not realizing that everyone around them is lost.
If a situation or conversation is dragging on, deep-thinking people might allow their minds to wander. What seems unrelated or unconnected becomes a part of the conversation because of someone with quick thoughts.
7. 'Let me get this down'
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Whether they're typing ferociously or writing down a physical note on paper, someone with a quick-thinking mind may say "let me get this down" to people around them. They're not distracted or disengaged, they're making space in their brain.
Similar to how "brain dumping" a bunch of anxious thoughts into a journal helps people to cope with stress, someone whose brain can't slow down may need to get it all out to focus. It's a physical way for them to concentrate on something that needs their attention, without losing anything important spiraling around in their mind.
8. 'I'm getting ahead of myself'
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Despite thinking ahead more than the average person, there's often a sense of self-awareness for these kinds of people. They can clock when others aren't on the same page or aren't following, and that's where a phrase like this comes in.
Whether they're talking to a partner or speaking in a work meeting, they know when to slow down or stop a tangent from going too far.
9. 'I need my rest'
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Even if not every person with a quick-thinking brain puts their sleep schedule first, those who can process information effectively and and protect their mental well-being do.
Cognitive processes like memory and consolidation are threatened when sleep deprivation enters the picture, making an already quick mind a whole lot harder to tame. If they want to be at their best in deep conversations, their sleep must be a priority.
10. 'To make a long story short'
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Even if they never shorten a story, you'll often hear someone with a fast brain saying something to this effect. Later in life, they know that not everyone thinks as deeply as they do or considers every detail like their brains can.
But they understand that if they share everything they've been thinking about, the most important things will get lost in translation. That's what makes a truly smart person. They know how to simplify topics and shift their language so conversations are inclusive, rather than arrogant and confusing.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
