# How to Avoid Overanalysis By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2022-10-01 Analysts are often prone to overanalyzing problems. Sometimes the problem is just really hard. Other times it's just an interesting problem. Either way, we often overwork and overthink it. Knowing when to stop analyzing is a valuable and time-saving skill because continuing beyond a point is not worth it. As highlighted in the Pareto Principle, 80% of the value often comes from 20% of the work. Stopping at the right time means stopping when you get to the valuable 80%. The trouble is you can only assess what is 80% after the entire problem is solved. So, one way to get better at guessing when 80% of the value has been uncovered is to diligently study your past experiences and behavior to find the leading indicators of when you reach 80%. This is a valuable exercise, but certainly not foolproof. Every problem is unique and conditions are always changing. So, here are a few heuristics that can help you find the 80% while only doing 20% of the work: 1. **Don't do the work all at once.** Instead, take breaks and work on something entirely different. Let the problem breathe and sleep on it. When you return, you'll likely have a new perspective and a better indication of what is valuable and what is not. Breaks allow time for us to consider if 80% has been reached. 2. **Set a time limit and don't go beyond it.** Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the void. If you give yourself no end time, then you will naturally continue working on it. Setting a time limit creates the barrier needed to encourage meaningful work while also breaking the tendency to just keep going. From the Pareto Principle, we know that completing all of the work isn't as productive as just completing part of it. Setting [[aggressive]] time windows to get the work done acts as a forcing function to focus on the most vital elements. 3. **Explain your work to someone else.** During some of those breaks from Part 1, try explaining your work to a colleague. Often explaining the work to someone else allows for you to not only see holes but also what parts are the most valuable. You might just find that you've already hit the 80%. #### Related Items [[Pareto Principle]] [[Parkinson's Law]] [[Overthinking]] [[Overanalysis]] [[Disengage]]