Sanity in a world of overload

"When we are unhurried and wise, we perceive that only great and worthy things have any permanent and absolute existence, that petty fears and petty pleasures are but the shadow of the reality." Henry David Thoreaux

I read an article in The Times yesterday that posited we are in danger of overload, of blowing our circuits from infotainment overload in this digital age.

That our brains simply cannot, are not large enough, to cope with the torrent and go into a kind of stress response, reptilian brain mode is one thing. But that this neuronal saturation actually makes us less humane is stretching it.

Certainly, as my old 'friend' Thoreaux maintains, it may make us less wise. Nevertheless, they may have a point ; and one backed up by science. That the more complex emotions of compassion, indignation, social awareness require more processing power than eg. Fear and happen in the higher region of the brain, the frontal cortex. It is this region that the brain shuts down when it is 'stressed' by overload.

So much for EQ then? Well, my brain feels close to bursting after 3 very stressful days, so what are my top tips for cooling down the system?

1. Breathe - regular, deep, rhythmic breathing creates space in the body and, soon, in the mind. It affects HRV too (heart waves) which help entrain the brain into a relaxed state of awareness. Do this regularly throughout the day.

2. Meditate - at least once a day for at least 5 mins. The effects, which Build up over time, are an amazing sense of peace and freedom and it increases brain capacity.

3. Yoga nidra - the most poerful form of 'altered consciousness' and deep relaxation on earth. 20 mins are equivalent to several hours of sleep. When I am feeling especially overloaded I do this each night.

Of course, there will be more ... Keep reading!