Why overwhelm rises so quickly in the digital age, the cognitive architecture behind it, and the practical steps that protect your mind in a time of accelerating political pressure.
Love it. The Internet, with all of us expected to attend to its myriad sites and apps, is a perfect set-up for self-overwhelm. We're not the Supreme Multitaskers we'd like to think that we are. And every one of the regime's minions seems to have been instructed to maximize the flood of minute-by-minute insults to our rights and our morality. Everything this illegitimate regime does is a distraction from everything ELSE they are doing, designed to scream for more of our attention than we are able to handle. The things that escape our attention do so through carefully-planned "flooding of the zone." 😎✌️
Exactly this! The sheer volume of noise online can make anyone feel stretched thin, even before we add the constant churn of political chaos. It really is a set-up for overwhelm, and none of us is built to keep up with that kind of frantic pace.
Your point about flooding the zoneis so true — when everything is made to feel urgent, nothing can be held clearly. Pulling back a bit and choosing where we place your attention is one of the few real antidotes. 😎✌️
Thank you, Lori. I'm in my late 70s, and one issue with distraction, memory issues is always " Is this normal under the circumstances you're describing, or am I developing age-related brain issues?". Notifications from apps with time reminders is good start for me. I don't need the reminders, and they are jarring.
I understand the worry, Robin, and I hope I've alleviated it a little. It’s natural to wonder what’s normal as we get older, especially when life is already stretching your attention, but what you describe sounds very human. And I agree about those app reminders — they can be far more jarring than supportive.
Thank you Lori for the great article. In my line of work I deal daily with all the constantly changing import tariffs. Coupled with our current political situation I find myself struggling to just being able to focus. This article helped me to understand why this struggle is real. I cut off notifications long ago but need to setup stronger boundaries and find time for myself.
I’m really glad this piece met you at the right moment, Cindy. Your line of work sounds very demanding — navigating shifting tariffs would be exhausting even in calm times, never mind with the political noise piled on top. No wonder your focus is slipping.
It’s good that you’ve already ditched the notifications; that’s a solid first step. Stronger boundaries and a bit of protected time for yourself can make a real difference, and I'll be writing more on how to implement this. I hope it provides greater solace — you deserve some space to be kind to yourself.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm 75 and I frequently experience this issue. It’s frustrating in that I know the answer but it is swirling around the neurons. Eventually it will squeeze through and pop up. Always a satisfying experience. 😊
You're welcome, David. I know that feeling well, and I’m glad you described it so honestly. It's exasperating when you know the answer is in there somewhere, just taking its time to surface, though yes — when it finally does pop through, there’s a real little spark of satisfaction. But you’re certainly not alone in this, and it's really common in people decades younger.
Sometimes it helps me to remember that a mind that still works things out, even if a bit slower at times, is very much a living, capable one.😊
Love it. The Internet, with all of us expected to attend to its myriad sites and apps, is a perfect set-up for self-overwhelm. We're not the Supreme Multitaskers we'd like to think that we are. And every one of the regime's minions seems to have been instructed to maximize the flood of minute-by-minute insults to our rights and our morality. Everything this illegitimate regime does is a distraction from everything ELSE they are doing, designed to scream for more of our attention than we are able to handle. The things that escape our attention do so through carefully-planned "flooding of the zone." 😎✌️
Exactly this! The sheer volume of noise online can make anyone feel stretched thin, even before we add the constant churn of political chaos. It really is a set-up for overwhelm, and none of us is built to keep up with that kind of frantic pace.
Your point about flooding the zoneis so true — when everything is made to feel urgent, nothing can be held clearly. Pulling back a bit and choosing where we place your attention is one of the few real antidotes. 😎✌️
Thank you, Lori. I'm in my late 70s, and one issue with distraction, memory issues is always " Is this normal under the circumstances you're describing, or am I developing age-related brain issues?". Notifications from apps with time reminders is good start for me. I don't need the reminders, and they are jarring.
I understand the worry, Robin, and I hope I've alleviated it a little. It’s natural to wonder what’s normal as we get older, especially when life is already stretching your attention, but what you describe sounds very human. And I agree about those app reminders — they can be far more jarring than supportive.
Thank you, Lori. Your insights and explanation are so helpful, especially during this challenging period of intentional overwhelm.
You're welcome Suzy — I’m so glad it helped. We're going through such a challenging time, but a bit of clarity makes the load a little lighter.
Thank you Lori for the great article. In my line of work I deal daily with all the constantly changing import tariffs. Coupled with our current political situation I find myself struggling to just being able to focus. This article helped me to understand why this struggle is real. I cut off notifications long ago but need to setup stronger boundaries and find time for myself.
I’m really glad this piece met you at the right moment, Cindy. Your line of work sounds very demanding — navigating shifting tariffs would be exhausting even in calm times, never mind with the political noise piled on top. No wonder your focus is slipping.
It’s good that you’ve already ditched the notifications; that’s a solid first step. Stronger boundaries and a bit of protected time for yourself can make a real difference, and I'll be writing more on how to implement this. I hope it provides greater solace — you deserve some space to be kind to yourself.
Much needed support now. Thank you
You're very welcome Lyn — I'm so glad you found it helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm 75 and I frequently experience this issue. It’s frustrating in that I know the answer but it is swirling around the neurons. Eventually it will squeeze through and pop up. Always a satisfying experience. 😊
You're welcome, David. I know that feeling well, and I’m glad you described it so honestly. It's exasperating when you know the answer is in there somewhere, just taking its time to surface, though yes — when it finally does pop through, there’s a real little spark of satisfaction. But you’re certainly not alone in this, and it's really common in people decades younger.
Sometimes it helps me to remember that a mind that still works things out, even if a bit slower at times, is very much a living, capable one.😊