Surviving the Age of Overwhelm
(Be Less Overwhelmed video 1)

This week we’re working our way through a book that lays out ways to be less overwhelmed, which I think it particularly pertinent right now. I’m not used to sharing someone else’s stuff, but I think this info should be more widely known.

The book is The Age of Overwhelm by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky, a specialist in working with front-line people who experience secondary trauma. Today I introduce you to how she frames overwhelm and how we find our way through it.

Less overwhelm, more intention (Be Less Overwhelmed video 2)

Distraction is one of the symptoms and causes of overwhelm. Its antidote is being more intentional. Here’s what Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky recommends in The Age of Overwhelm on how to do that (filtered through my brain, obvs).

Less overwhelm, more connection
(Be Less Overwhelmed video 3)

Disconnection is of the symptoms and causes of overwhelm. Here is a trauma specialist’s advice on how we can be more connected to ourselves and to others and reduce our experience of overwhelm, part of this week's summary of The Age of Overwhelm by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky.

Less overwhelm, more curiosity
(Be Less Overwhelmed video 4)

The third practical chapter of The Age Of Overwhelm talks about how important it is to be less attached to our perspectives, as a way of becoming more immune to overwhelm. A bit more cerebral this one, but that’s the nature of these techniques - some are very practical, some are more about how we move through the world - but in combination they set us up for success.

Less overwhelm, more stamina
(Be Less Overwhelmed video 5)

Constant overwhelm leads to chronic depletion. To be in this for the long haul, we need to focus on what fills us up so we have enough internal resources. Here’s some suggestions from a trauma specialist — in combination with the suggestions in the other four videos this week we may have a chance to be less overwhelmed in a long-term way.