SLOWING DOWN IN THE AGE OF OVERSTIMULATION
In recent years, overstimulation has become quite the buzzword. Everything and everyone these days seems to be overstimulating. But what does that really mean?
In its true Psychological sense, overstimulation refers to when your brain and nervous system becomes excessively overwhelmed by so much sensory input – light, noise, crowds, visuals – and information that it can no longer comfortably process any of it. This leads to your nervous system’s fight or flight stress response being triggered. It is more than a mild inconvenience, as true overstimulation may manifest as irritability, anxiety, difficulty focusing, unease, and emotional fatigue. Essentially, being overstimulated is like:
listening to three different songs
on full volume
in a crowded colourful room
and someone is trying to have a conversation with you
Too much is happening too fast.
The reality is that the modern age, for all its wonderful inventions of innovation and convenience, has ushered us into an era of perpetual overstimulation. There is always too much, happening too fast. We sit at a medium sized screen all day doing our jobs, then come home to relax in front of a larger screen, whilst scrolling on our small screen. Most people have unlimited access to everything, everywhere, all at once. We are constantly feeding our minds with noise, images, interactions, and engagement that eventually results in sensory overload. If you’re stuck in the cycle of being chronically on, it might be time for a nervous system reboot:
- Return to analogue enjoyment
As cliche as it might seem, a digital detox is always helpful. Understandly, you might rely on your tech for work or school, but where you can, try unplugging to remind your body how it feels to do things without excessive input from an all-knowing device. Try implementing a screen-time schedule that might help decrease your consumption. Then use this newfound freetime to go back to basics: Perhaps try learning a new recipe from a physical cookbook, reading a hardcopy novel or magazine, or taking up hobbies that involve being present and using your senses like painting, puzzle building, or playing a sport.
- Don’’t be afraid of boredom
The modern world moves fast, and it can be easy to feel like you’re missing out if you’re not constantly on the go. There’s always some new trend to try out, new video to watch, or new app to get lost in. Often being occupied can be really fun and rewarding. But sometimes what we may need the most is to stop for a moment. When was the last time you had nothing to do? No plans, no distractions, nothing to fill the silence. The idea of just being without doing can feel intimidating, especially if we measure our satisfaction by how productive or busy our day was. However, sometimes just sitting in silence with yourself can bring a quiet comfort. You might even have the opportunity to reflect on your emotions and thoughts in these moments of solace. Which, arguably, could be more rewarding than filling up the hours with endless distraction.
- Practice Mindfulness
If you’ve ever been guilty of putting on a movie or television show, and then immediately picking up your phone to scroll along as you ‘watch’, you’re definitely not alone. The modern age provides us with so much short form content that we have become accustomed to immediate gratification. Our attention spans are dwindling, and with it, our ability to be present. If you’re interested in resetting and relearning the art of being in the here and now again, you might find it helpful to practice mindfulness. This can translate to being aware of what you’re doing in a given moment, drawing attention to what your senses are experiencing, slowing down and savouring what’s in front of you, and focusing your attention on one thing at a time. Perhaps try watching the movie you selected, and taking note of the colours in each scene. Chew every bite of the snack you’re having with awareness of the texture, flavour, and sensation in your mouth. Go on your daily run without your earphones; listening instead to the sounds around you and honing in on your visual experience. You’d be surprised at what you notice once you begin practicing the art of noticing.
- Curate your content
As vast and autonomous as the information age may seem, you are still largely in control of the content you choose to consume. Sometimes, being overly exposed to the latest gossip, worldly atrocities, scandalised headlines, or lives rich and famous can be a lot to digest. You might find yourself feeling demotivated, stuck in a cycle of comparison, or just feeling desensitised to the current state of the world. This can be detrimental to your overall mental wellbeing, and is perhaps when you need to take control of what you’re watching or listening to. Perhaps try consuming content that uplifts you, such as motivational videos, self-help guides, human interest stories. Or maybe use the excess of knowledge at your fingertips to learn a new skill through watching tutorials. Listen to podcasts on topics that interest you and can meaningfully enrich your mind rather than overwhelm it.
So yes, the world is bright, noisy, busy, fast-paced, and mentally demanding. The reality is that this won’t change; the pace never slows down. But you can. You have the power to decide when and how to reset. The brightside is, you don’t have to do this alone. If you would like to explore how to implement and sustain intentional practices like these, feel free to reach out for a session.