We live in a world that never truly pauses. Even in quiet moments, our minds feel full. Full of thoughts, notifications, expectations, noise. Many of us feel tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fix, overwhelmed by small things, or constantly on edge without knowing exactly why. This isn’t a personal failure, it’s a nervous system response. We are collectively overstimulated, and it’s shaping the way we think, feel, and move through life.
Below are some of the main reasons why so many of us feel this way.
Why We Are Collectively Overstimulated
Constant Digital Input
Our phones are often the first thing we see in the morning and the last thing we touch at night. Messages, news, social media, videos, emails, our brains are processing endless information without real breaks. Even when we’re “relaxing,” we’re still consuming. There is no natural pause anymore, and our nervous systems don’t get the chance to reset. And the thing is that it is not easy to reduce your screentime. All those social media apps are designed to keep you on the app. It is addictive.
Social Media and Comparison Culture
We are constantly exposed to other people’s lives, their routines, achievements, bodies, homes, productivity, and happiness. Even when we know it’s curated, our brains still compare. This creates pressure to keep up, do more, be more, and never fall behind. It’s exhausting to measure yourself against hundreds of lives every single day. Sometimes we forget that photo or video is just one moment of their lives. It is not the full picture.
Busy Schedules and Full Calendars
Being busy has become normal, even expected. Our days are packed with tasks, appointments, social plans, and responsibilities. We rarely leave space for nothing. Rest is often something we have to “earn,” instead of something we allow. When life is always scheduled, the nervous system stays in alert mode. And this is not just a thing we do on a workday. Even on the weekends we are super busy, because we have to go grocery shopping, go to the gym, spend time with our friends.
The Pressure to Always Be Productive
There’s an unspoken belief that we should always be improving, optimizing, and achieving. Even rest has turned into something we try to do “right.” This constant self-improvement mindset keeps our minds switched on and makes it difficult to truly relax without guilt. It is why I am not a big fan of the hustle culture. Sometimes I still see those kind of videos on my For You Page and it is always the same. In those videos they say we have to work harder, do more etc.
Lack of True Silence
Silence has become rare. There’s almost always background noise, music, podcasts, videos, conversations, traffic. Many of us feel uncomfortable in quiet moments because we’re not used to them anymore. But silence is where the nervous system recovers. Without it, overstimulation builds.
Emotional and Mental Load
We carry more than just our own lives. We absorb news, global issues, expectations, and other people’s emotions. Being constantly aware of everything happening in the world keeps our minds in a state of alertness. Our nervous systems were never meant to hold this much all the time. Negativity is a part of our lives. It is probably impossible to escape that. But we have to find a way to have more balance in our lives and how we deal with our emotions instead of surpressing them.
No Clear Boundaries Between Work and Rest
With phones and laptops always nearby, work and responsibility can follow us everywhere. Messages come in after hours, thoughts about tasks linger, and switching off feels difficult. When there’s no clear end to the day, the body never fully relaxes. I know someone who is always thinking about her job. And honestly, she is always feeling stressed. It is just not healthy. Everyone needs a healthy balance in their lives.