The world feels very heavy right now. There’s so many news updates, our social media feeds are pushing out content every single second of the day and it’s a never-ending stream of new notifications. It feels so overwhelming.
As artists, creatives and small business owners and frankly just human beings, this constant stream of information can drain you. It impacts your creativity, the ability to sleep, and focus on things that matter in your life.
The good news is that you don’t need to click on every anxiety inducing headline, every notification on your phone or be available 24/7.
You have the choice to set boundaries and not feel guilty about it. You deserve to rest and let yourself recharge, even when life feels heavy.
Here are some simple tips I've been practicing to quite the noise of the world and better care for my well-being:
1. Set Boundaries with Technology
Technology helps us do all kinds of things that we couldn’t do years ago. Like request a ride to the airport, FaceTime with friends in another timezone, pay our bills, and of course, run our businesses. But sometimes technology starts to feel overwhelming. That’s when it’s time to set some boundaries to help you get back on track.
Use Digital Well-Being Tools
Most phones nowadays have built-in well-being tools to help you manage the time you spend on your phone.
Below are tools I use on my phone and in some cases on my computer, to reduce my screen time and take better care of my mental health:
Bedtime Mode
This is set from 10pm - 9am. It turns my screen to black and white to make being on my phone less interesting and also silences any incoming notifications so I can focus on actually winding down before bed.
Focus Mode
This is set from 6am to 9am. It blocks my browser and social media apps so I can instead focus on my morning routine like getting in my meditation, journaling and eating breakfast.
Screen Limits
To keep myself from spending hours doom-scrolling, I’ve put daily time limits on certain apps so I can focus on work or, tackle my to-do list for find other ways to unwind.
Do I sometimes override these limits? Yes! But overall, they have certainly helped me create better habits and refocus my attention on other things that matter to me.
Check Your Screen Time
How much time do you think you spend on social media? 30 minutes? Maybe it’s actually close to 3 hours.
If you’re struggling to get through your to-do list or maybe you’re in a funky mood, consider checking to see how much time you're spending on your phone and what apps you frequently use.
Being able to check your usage can give you insights into how you're using your phone and help you to be more intentional about how you use your time.
Use Website and News Feed Blockers
If I need to be totally heads down and focused, using website and app blockers like Freedom (paid) and SelfControl (free) can limit distractions while working.
And if you find yourself getting sucked into your social media feed anytime you open in, try News Feed Eradicator. Instead of seeing your social media feed, you see an inspirational quote. This allows you to be more intentional about how you view your social media content and reduce the temptation to doom-scroll.
2. Make Time to Play, Create and Relax
When life feels overwhelming or out of control, it can feel selfish to focus on having fun and relaxing. But making time for moments of joy is an act of resistance. It’s a way to take care of yourself and reminds you that there’s still beauty and meaning in the world.
Here’s how I’ve been making space for play, creativity and relaxation:
Screen-Free Cozy Hobbies
Remember the days when hobbies weren’t all about making money or having to produce something to share with others? Before we were glued to our screens, we would sit on the floor and color, listen to music and play board games with friends.
Explore or reconnect with hobbies that offer a tactile, screen-free joyful experience.
Explore a New Creative Outlet
If your go-to hobby has become your business, find new ways to channel your creativity that’s separate from your business.
For me, birdwatching has been a fun way for me to connect with nature and feel more at peace. I’ve also taken up nature journaling to document my experiences and helped me appreciate the natural world around us..
A practice drawing of a Eurasian Collard-Dove from my nature journal
Make a Feel-Good List
Whether it’s coloring, exploring the book shelves at your local library, doodling in a journal or visiting a local park, make a list of activities and places that put you in a good mood. When you’re feeling drained, pick on activity from the list to help you disconnect and recharge.
3. Prioritize Rest & Relaxation
It’s tempting to fill every free moment to “catch up” on chores, work or scrolling on your phone.
But if you don’t make time to rest, your body will make the decision for you and it will probably at the most inconvenient time.
Pushing yourself to keep going as you’re running on fumes is a sure fire way to continue to feel stressed, overwhelmed, burned out and exhausted.
Here’s a few ways to help you slow down:
Make Time to Decompress
Whether it’s an hour before bed, your lunch break or after work, carve out time for yourself time to slow down and relax.
By making time decompress and unwind, you'll start to relax your nervous system and create a sense of calm. Maybe pick up an activity from your Feel-Good list to help you chill out.
After I've gotten ready for bed, I like to get cozy on the sofa with a blanket and a good book and read before bed-time. This helps my mind relax and help me fall asleep a lot easier.
Be Unproductive
Learning to slow down and engage in activities that don’t focus on being productive can help you to reduce your stress levels.
Activities like journaling, meditating or going on a walk can provide you a moment to slow down and relax.
Power Off Your Screens
There have been times where I feel overstimulated from scrolling on my phone or watching too much Youtube. When this happens, I make it a practice to turn off any screens and engaged in a screen-free activity instead.
Screen-free activities:
- Reading a light book or magazine
- Looking out the window and watching the world go by
- Journaling and free writing
- Working on a puzzle or word search
- Doodling or sketching
- Listening to music
Engaging in one of the these activities, even for a little as 5 or 10 minutes can help you start to mentally relax and ground you in the present moment. And even have a little fun in the process.
Practice the Art of Doing Nothing
I was watching a YouTuber from the Netherlands talking about Niksen - the Dutch word for practicing doing nothing.
In American culture, we prioritize being productive and being busy over slowing down and resting. But the truth is, making time to not “do” anything can help you improve your creativity, reduce stress and overall help you feel better.
Whether it’s just staring outside the window or making a conscious effort not to reach for your phone while waiting in line, practicing doing nothing can invite you to being in the moment.
If you want to go deeper you can learn more about Niksen from this article.
Final Thoughts
The outside world is running at full speed. It’s become louder, faster, scarier and more overwhelming. We are bombarded with new content and new information all the time, making us feel like we need to know what’s happening every second of the day.
Not only is it’s impossible to keep up with everything, we not wired to process the sheer volume of information that we see on our screens 24/7.
Trying to absorb every piece of information impacts at our mental and physical well-being.
Instead, choose when you’re available, when you need to step back, and what boundaries you need to set to protect your peace.
Rest is a necessity, not a luxury or reward.
When you make time to turn down the noise, slow down and disconnect, you’re putting yourself first and taking care of your needs. You’re creating the space for creativity, joy and the things that truly matter to you.
You thrive when you give yourself permission to unplug and slow down especially when life feels overwhelming.
What’s been helping you navigate things lately? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!