Green for prosperity. Happy January :)
Overstimulated.
That’s the word I heard most last year, from clients, friends & people who didn’t yet have language for what their bodies were trying to say. Individually & collectively, people are hurting. The world around us feels heavy, many of us have learned how to function inside that heaviness for so long that it has begun to feel normal.
Overstimulated was how my coworkers & I described work. The pandemic brought an even deeper sense of devastation that many of us just couldn’t push through. In 2025, despite the promise that time healed all wounds, I still heard code blue alarms everywhere I went. My sleep was raggedy. I constantly felt unsettled.
As a collective, the energy of unsettledness is overwhelming at times. I’m more aware of that feeling when I travel to different countries. There are places across the world that don’t live in constant chaos. Italy pauses for a few hours each day for riposo, which is similar to the Spanish word siesta. In the United States we’re treated like pack mules.
Chaos feels normal to the body when it becomes consistent because the body is built to adapt. When chaos lives in the body long enough, it eventually asks for our attention. Sometimes it demands it. Demands it in a way that feels like you’re being grabbed by the collar of your shirt & thrown up against the wall.
Because we are so adaptable, it can take years to recognize what chronic overstimulation & stress are doing to our mental & physical health.
I find myself missing the 1990s, when we spent more time outdoors, playing double dutch, riding our bikes. Adults sat together & had the juiciest conversations.
Now, we live in a world of constant input, other people’s thoughts mixed in with our own. Spurts of dopamine keep us tied to habits that leave our nervous system on high alert, always running. Many of us adopted these habits to stay sane.
While access to educational resources & social platforms has its benefits, meaningful offline interactions remain essential for healthier development & overall well-being for both children & adults. This is the lifestyle we had in the 90s. Hanging out with friends overrode everything. Children are currently spending their formative years practicing harmful habits that we all have been warned about.
Excessive screen media usage in children can have both positive and negative impacts on their development. Regarding cognitive development, screens have the potential to enhance education and learning. However, studies have shown that excessive screen time and media multitasking can negatively affect executive functioning, sensorimotor development, and academic outcomes. Early screen exposure has been associated with lower cognitive abilities and academic performance in later years. Language development is also affected by screen time, as it diminishes the quantity and quality of interactions between children and caregivers. (Muppalla et al.)
If you’re feeling this collective heaviness, feeling overstimulated or constantly overwhelmed or stretched thin, you did nothing wrong. Your body is responding to the world around it & the habits it takes part in every day. Naming the habits that keep the body in an unsettled loop is part of being intentional with where we place our energy. So is learning when to step away from what no longer serves us. Your time & energy are your most valuable currencies, spend them on what you want to see grow in your life.
This year we’re crocheting, growing plants & minding the body that keeps us instead of crashing out. I hope peace & happiness meets you where your heart is <3
Top lifestyle habits that research shows can work against the body over time:
Chronic sleep deprivation
Poor sleep can increase stress & anxiety. Long-term sleep deprivation disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate emotions. Sleep goal for adults: 7-9 hours each day.
Excessive screen time, doomscrolling, social media usage
Causes overstimulation of the nervous system, keeping us in a high alert state.
Negative self-talk
Self-criticism & expecting the worst outcome can reinforce neural pathways associated with worthlessness & depression.
Social isolation
We (humans) are wired for connection. Replacing real life interactions with digital ones is linked to faster cognitive decline & higher rates of depression.
In Blue Zones, regions where people have longer life expectancies & live healthier lives, in-person social connection is one of the most important lifestyle habits.
Procrastination & avoidance
Procrastination is noted to be a coping mechanism for anxiety but can lead to future stress. Avoiding difficult emotions or conversations similarly allows anxiety to thrive in our body.
Poor diet & activity
Sedentary lifestyle reduces the production of endorphins, our natural mood lifters. Diets that are high in processed foods impact memory & mental health.
Substance misuse
Substances are often used for relaxation but act as nervous system stimulants or depressants which may increase risk of depression & anxiety.
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