Having information overload? Me, too.

I had forgotten how MUCH NOISE January has. Oh dear lord, the overflow of information, challenges, workshops, goal setting tips, freebies - the amount of information and noise is INSANE.

I AM OVERWHELMED Y’ALL.

Anyone else with me?As part of my spiritual practice, I draw either Oracle or Tarot cards to help me get back to centre either daily or once a week.

So I am here on Sunday 7th Jan, and I drew Two of Swords today:

See how this lady has a blindfold and she holds up two swords against her chest like saying “STOP. NO MORE?” This card is all about information overload, confusion, facing challenging decisions, not sure what path to take.

This card has me all over it.

Since leaving my job last month, I have been excited and have gotten so many ideas of different experiences, workshops and journeys that I can offer you this year to help you to open up your hearts more to life and go after the life you truly want and deserve.

“But for f**’s sake, where do I even bloody begin??? What experience should I do first? When should I return to London? Ooooh, that would be cool to do as a weekly post! Oh, what a juicy idea to do for newsletters. Oh, yes, and that and ooh that too!!!”*

This has literally been my brain this morning.

And then, I open my social media or email once and more information comes in, more ideas. I feel overwhelmed, my head spinning like a carousel, and I cannot take any action.

So, what do I do? 

Here are 5 things what I did and what you can do if information overload hits you.

1. Stop everything.

When we are in our heads, we gotta stop whatever we are doing. Close the laptop. Put away the phone. Whatever it is - You gotta stop and take a break.

2. Connect: Take a breath.

When we get into our heads, our heart rate goes up and breath gets shorter. So, as you stop. Take 6 conscious big exhales and inhales to calm yourself down.

3. Move: Go walk outside.

You took a moment to connect by breathing. Now we gotta move. Leave the space you are in.

And no, you will not put on that new podcast episode you have looked forward to listening because that is MORE information and will only make you more overwhelmed.

We are going outside and just walking by yourself and your mind. No music. No podcasts. Nada. Moving meditation without digital noise is what your nervous system needs to recenter itself.

4. Take a moment to be in silence.

I am lucky to be in Finland where I can go in the forest and I can stop at my steps and take a quiet moment. I let the Forest bathing do the job. I am held by the forest, Mother Earth. In silence. But if you live in the city, just find a space in your home where you can go be in the quiet. Just a few minutes of silence will do the trick and calm down your system even more.

5. Put time limits to social media and email use.

If you are on there, the more information gets in your brain and the more overwhelmed you get. Put a limit on your phone how much you can use your social media apps and email per day. You can limit it differently on weekends and during weekdays.

I also suggest you make a rule when you can earliest and latest be in the apps during the day. First hour and last hour of your day should not be in the digital noise of any kind.

6. Do a digital declutter to minimise the noise.

To cut the noise. You gotta clean your digital spaces as much as your physical one. Unfollow accounts you don’t want to see. Unsubscribe the emails you never read. Delete contacts and WhatsApp chats you don’t want taking space.

My Marketing Wizard and dear friend Lauren’s community Freelance Friends is doing digital decluttering sessions this month, which is a good opportunity to do this mundane task together! Check out the dates here.

7. Before taking something on, connect with this question: “Why this? Why now?”

There are some cool offerings out there and some of which might be perfect for you right now. You cannot do it all though, so asking yourself why this and why now? helps to make centred decision if the timing is right or whether to wait on that for later. 

I hope these help you.

I almost burnt out last autumn because of too much noise. I was in by doing too much, taking too much on, having too much on the table to try to be everywhere for everyone.

No more. Like the Two of Swords lady on the card, I hold my swords up that I will not do this again.

Here’s to 2024 where we work from an inner peace, feeling centred, where we are in unison with our our mind, body, heart and soul and we can return to that unison easily even when the noise can at times gets in and shake things up a bit.

Practice those 7 steps and you can manage information overload much better. I hope this served you as much as it helped me.

Heartfully,EsPS: I also recorded a moving mantra to serve you when overwhelmed by the pace of the external. If you need affirming, take a moment to breathe and listen here.

Oracle card for the week ahead

This is all about you putting pieces together. This is the perfect time for that. To build the Mosaic of what is your 2024 and life beyond, now is time to do the nitty gritty. What pieces are still hanging unorganised? What have you organised? Where are you seeing disorder? Where is order? Where can you see clearly through the glass and where it is still not fully formed?Number 47 sums to 11. This Wednesday 11th is New Moon - some pieces will come together for you then. Make time to set some intentions Wednesday for the next couple of weeks till the Full Moon. Number 2 can also be meaningful. This is an exciting time for diligently putting pieces together. No need to rush this process. We are in the midst of winter and it is okay to take your time! Your pieces laid out strongly is the foundation for the year ahead.

Let's keep connecting.

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