You're Not Lazy, You're Overstimulated
I think we've all been there. You;ve written down the to-do list, you know what needs to be done and yet....you just can't seem to start. Instead of tacking the tasks one by one, you snack, scroll and try to avoid starting at any cost. I've even caught myself just staring at the wall a few times. 😐
And then that inner critic whispers: ''Why am I so lazy?'' When the truth is, we're overstimulated. And our brains are doing their best to protect us.
Original photo - taken and owned by Autmly
What Overstimulation Really Means
Overstimulation happens when your brain is flooded with more input that it can comfortably process. Bright screens or lights, constant notifications, endless tabs, background noice, work deadlines - all of these compete for your attention.
Your brain is designed to filter and focus, but when it's bombarded from all sides, that filter gets clogged. And as a result your mind gets scattered, tasks feel daunting and heavier, motivation slips away...It's a true mental overload.
The Science Behind 'Why can't I just do it?'
Researchers call this state mental fatigue - and it has real, measurable effects.
Your attention networks slow dow - Studies shows that people who worked on very demanding tasks for an hour or longer showed weaker brain activity in the areas responsible for focus and conflict resolution afterwards. Meaning that the system that help you get things done gets tired out.
Your brain starts avoiding effort - Another study found that when we're mentally fatigued, we shy away from tasks that require more energy - even if the reward is bigger. It's not that we don't want to do it, our brains are simply recalculating the cost as 'too high
You emotional filter shifts - Overload also makes it harder to regulate emotions. And when we're tired our brain can filter out difficult information as if to say: "Nope, can't deal with that right now."
With the sensory chaos of daily life no wonder we can find ourselves just paralysed. And this is not laziness, it's biology.
What We Can Do To Reset
So, starting a task feels impossible, procrastinations kicks in as a self-protection mechanism, the dopamine hits are muted so even small steps don't feel satisfying....But the good news is - overstimulation is reversible! With a few gentle shifts, you can recharge your brain and reclaim your focus.
Take real breaks - micro-pauses throughout the day restore attention networks. And I don't mean put on a YouTube video or scroll social media, close your eyes, breath, step outside of a few minutes if you can.
Simplify your inputs - silence notifications, declutter your workspace, try noise cancelling headphones. Fewer sensory distractions means more bandwidth for what matters.
Do one thing at a time - Multitasking drains energy faster, so try to protect your focus by concentrating on just one task at a time whenever you can.
Protect your sleep - Blue light and overstimulation often bleed into the night, disrupting your rest. Try and prioritise good night sleep, it's the only time the brain can truly reset.
Try mindfulness - I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but try to take just 1-3 minutes to meditate or just to breathe deeply. It will help calm the nervous system down and sharpen attention.
Break tasks into smaller steps - Your brain loves "small wins", so try breaking down a task into smaller steps and see how momentum builds.
Reframe Your Mindset
What you think matters. Saying things like "I'm just lazy" feeds shame and shuts you down. Try shifting your thinking into more compassionate direction, by understanding that what is happening to you is just overstimulation. You're a human living in an age of constant inputs, and your brain is doing it's best to cope. When you pause, protect your energy, and simplify your environment, you give yourself the chance to be productive without the pressure. It's okay to just say to yourself "I'm overstimulated and I deserve a reset."
Thank you for reading and I hope I see you next time. 🍂
Keep your heart cozy - no matter the season.