LIFE IN A WORD

The Word is OVERLOAD

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: an excessive load or amount of something

Posted 4/21/2025

My Story on Overload (when life throws us more than we can handle)

Every so often, I feel a tension in my body and a dull pressure in my head, bordering on a headache. After some self-reflection, I’ve realized that these moments are a new form of sensory overload.

Medical News Today defines sensory overload as “the overstimulation of one or more of the body’s five senses. People will respond differently to feeling overstimulated, but symptoms often include anxiety, discomfort, and fear.”

Simply put, when our brain takes in more than it can process—from what we see, hear, smell, taste, or touch—it tries to get our attention. It’s our inner warning system saying, “Something isn’t right. Time to slow down. Time to shift.”

We usually associate sensory overload with bright lights, loud noises, intense flavors, overwhelming textures, or powerful smells. But I’d like to add one more modern-day culprit that sends me into overload every single day—the undeniable, unavoidable, and unrelenting influx of emails.

They come from everywhere: people I know, companies I don’t, advertisers, politicians, and scammers—all vying for a moment of my time and attention.

And no matter how often I unsubscribe, block, or report something as junk, those same senders always seem to find their way back. My daily ritual of “select and delete” usually takes place in the morning—right after my meditation and yoga. Just writing that makes me rethink my timing. Shouldn’t peaceful practices come after an email battle?

I’m sure some of you can relate.

Here’s the thing: how is any person with a life expected to read—let alone respond to—the constant flow of requests, sales pitches, news flashes, and updates? It amazes me. I’m only one person!

And it doesn’t stop with email. Let’s not forget the avalanche of text messages, news alerts, group chats, and live-stream notifications that pop up on our screens dozens of times a day.

How do they even find us?

To all the relentless senders out there: please, take pity on us! We’d have to give up everything we hold dear to satisfy your appetite for our attention.

So, what’s the solution?

To the tech wizards among us—I’m reaching out. Short of deleting my email account altogether, is there anything I can do to stop this overload? I am truly at your mercy.

Until then, I’ll continue my daily ritual: select and delete. And maybe rethink the timing of my morning meditation!

I've used the "overload of emails" as a metaphor for when life throws us more than we can handle.

When your mind and body are on overload and tell you that "something isn't right. Time to slow down. Time to shift." I hope you'll reach out to me.

As a Life Coach, I help men and women transition from one chapter of their life to another with confidence and calm by taking one small step at a time.

I encourage the first step to take me up on my offer for a free consultation. No cost or obligation, just an opportunity to share your thoughts out loud with a certified Life Coach.

Please click the email address below to schedule your appointment. I promise that's one email I look forward to reading and responding to. Thank you.

E-mail: innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com