Overwhelming Headlines
We live in a world where the news never stops. Headlines refresh by the second, notifications buzz constantly, and somewhere along the way, staying informed quietly turned into staying overwhelmed. During the pandemic, we finally gave language to what many of us were already doing. Doomscrolling. That anxious, heavy pull to keep scrolling even when it is clearly costing us peace. What we often call “just catching up” is actually information overload, when the speed and volume of content exceed what our minds and bodies were ever meant to hold.
And the effects are not subtle. Information overload does not just live in our thoughts. It settles into our nervous systems. Mental fatigue that never really lifts. Irritability that shows up out of nowhere. Anxiety humming in the background. Trouble sleeping because our brains never get the signal that it is safe to power down. Add headaches, eye strain, and constant tension, and it becomes clear that this is not a discipline issue or a focus issue. It is a whole-person issue.
Here is where it gets complicated. Technology is not the villain. Most of us genuinely want to stay connected, informed, and engaged with the world. But our apps are not neutral either. Algorithms are incredibly effective at keeping our attention, especially when fear, outrage, or urgency are involved. Social media can be a starting point for information, but it was never meant to be the place we live.
When we feel the obligation to be constantly available and connected, our tolerance for stillness slowly disappears. We struggle to sit with our emotions, prayers turn into checklists, and we never get the chance to catch our breath. Over time, this leads to dysregulation in our bodies.
This post isn’t designed to put shame on you. Instead, it is a reminder that we were created for so much more than just scrolling. It’s an invitation to start observing the routines you have stepped into and evaluate whether they were created to bring healing or keep you stuck.
Simple steps to take:
- Use one of the phone wallpapers we provided in the images as a visual reminder. Place as your lockscreen for a daily reminder.
- Set time limits on your media consumption
- Ask yourself: Is this beneficial for my healing journey?
- Practice box breathing: inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4
- When things feel overwhelming, ground yourself by noticing:
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can feel
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
Engaging your senses can bring you back to the present moment and help regulate your system.
