Digital Overwhelm

Experience:

“Gahhhh!” I screamed out load as I stared at my computer screen. Five different windows are open with an average of seven windows open on each.

I noticed my breath was short. My chest tight. My eyes and mind spinning—not knowing where to focus. My hands keep moving the mouse track—switching windows back and forth. My fingers are trying to keep up with the thought bubbles and list of “to dos” that grow in my mind. My mind bouncing around trying to “figure out” where to put my focus.

My frustrated release turned into a laugh as I watched the irony unfold in front of me. I just released an archetype overwhelm quiz and here, digital overwhelm is bubbling up in my system.

Response:

Thanks to my own quiz results, I know my go-to response with overwhelm is to control the situation by tightening the reins. Instead of feeling like I am going into war with the digital overwhelm, I remind myself, I can respond differently.

I take 30 seconds to pause.

I invite my body to soften and rest back into my chair.

When my body feels more at ease, I can face the overwhelm with a lighter, playful and easing going lens.

To be clear, this doesn’t change the fact that there is a shit tone of digital clutter on my screen. However, what it does do is it changes my nervous system, my relationship and mindset to the task.

I notice a different internal response to the overwhelm shifts from fighting to survive to calmly being able to handle the next steps.

From this more relaxed body, I slowly start to:

• close down tabs

• email myself important tabs to revisit

• take note and celebrate what I have accomplished

• write my to-dos for the week ahead

Most importantly, I let go of the tabs I wish I had space to get to. I trust I will revisit them if they are truly important. Reminding myself, I am only human and can only do what I can do. I get to trust myself I am doing enough.

This Week’s Practice:

I welcome you to join me and notice your relationship to overwhelm.

Share your noticings with me in the comments or send me a DM.

(You can take the free Overwhelm Archetype Quiz here if you want additional insights and resources to your default response. Feel free to share your results below. We can learn so much from each other! Check out this week’s Centered in the City podcast on the topic).

1. How do you know you are feeling overwhelm? What physical sensations arise for you?

2. Where in your life are you feeling overwhelmed right now? (e.g. what to make for dinner, summer plans, work, data storage etc…Name it all on paper!)

3. What are your strategies of how to manage overwhelm? (Share with us in the comments. I know we could all use some inspo!)