How I beat overwhelm: Tracking my heart rate left me feeling like a frustrated failure
Biofeedback devices promised a whole new world of mental and physical harmony. They did change my life, but not in the way I’d hoped
I love to run, but ask me about my running times or distances and I will have no idea. For me, running is about squeezing exercise into a busy schedule, clearing my head and being in nature. I don’t need to measure it.
But unfortunately I am not immune to the oh-so-pleasing dopamine injection of unboxing a new bit of wearable tech, personalising the app for hours and thinking this might just change my life – the new, calmer, fitter, stronger, smarter me dangling tantalisingly within reach. One such scenario occurred after researching the importance of human connection on mental and physical health: less stress, less inflammation, less illness. Human connection, I learned, can stimulate and be facilitated by the vagus nerve – a primitive part of the nervous system.
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How I beat overwhelm: I kicked my news addiction – and discovered ways to make a proper difference
When I stopped watching, listening, reading and doomscrolling constantly, I no longer felt I was banging my head against a brick wall. For as long as I can remember, I have been addicted to ...The Guardian - 59m -
‘My stepmother makes me feel unwelcome’: I bought a house for my father in 2008, but now he wants me to sign over a 50% share for his third wife
“He has been married to his third wife for three years; she has asked him where she will live when he passes.”MarketWatch - 14h -
‘He’s 70 and fairly wealthy’: I met the love of my life three years ago. How do I politely ask that he include me in his will?
“His two sons are against any kind of commitment between us, as their dad has had two failed marriages.”MarketWatch - 15h -
How I beat overwhelm: I deleted my email app – and my sleep suddenly improved
Checking my emails at every possible opportunity had become distracting and draining. So I set myself new boundaries. As a freelance writer, the structure of my work day can often vary wildly. ...The Guardian - 1d -
How I beat overwhelm: I found WhatsApp draining – so I learned ways to curb my cravings
My anxiety about not replying to everyone’s messages was at a constant simmer until I created proper boundaries. I feel as if I’ve lost days of my life to digital causes. Even though I’m an ...The Guardian - 1d -
How I beat overwhelm: I said no to social events – and my friendships grew deeper
It seemed important to have a packed calendar. But when I slowed down I made space for spontaneity and fun. I used to equate a packed calendar with a full life. My days were booked up, well ahead ...The Guardian - 1d -
My disability admin at 27 feels like full-time job
Sofia Brizio, who lives in Cardiff, said she can spend four hours a day on "disability admin".BBC News - 1d -
Do you feel overwhelmed? Here’s why – and how to fix it
Modern life is so demanding that it can lead us to feel chronically drained. How can we address the problem before everyday stress turns into burnout?. There is a reasonable chance you are reading ...The Guardian - 2d -
I asked a 105-year-old when middle age starts: Her answer delighted me—and made me feel better about turning 40
Before I turned 40, Shirley Hodes, who was then about to turn 105, gave me her take on when "middle age" begins, and it was not at all what I expected.CNBC - 5d
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