Irritated and fuzzy brained? Cognitive overload might be the issue–and here’s what can help
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What’s more overstimulating than motherhood?
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On the list of things I don’t remember anyone telling me about when I was pregnant is the amount of noise there would be with kids. I mean, it’s obvious, I know, but really, someone should have warned me. Add this to the daily din of you-name-it, I can feel pretty overwhelmed without really understanding why.
As a parent, cognitive overload is REAL.
This happens when too many stimuli demand attention all at the same time. With everything you have to remember (which can change hourly, if not by the minute), all the clamor in your environment (toys can be loud, and kids “energetic”), and time either speeding up or slowing down (whichever is least convenient at the moment), the amount of information you can process at any given time can get maxed out pretty fast.
With all the things going on all the time, you might find yourself not being able to perform or process information like you would if the amount was more sustainable. Signs of cognitive overload include difficulty concentrating, poor decision making, forgetfulness, fatigue, and decreased productivity. And all of this can cause you to become frustrated and detached from all the details your brain is trying to wrap itself around.
A crucial step to help you manage your cognitive load is to take breaks and relax, so your brain and body have a chance to rest and recover.
But if taking a break is not feasible at the moment, there are other ways to decrease the level of stimulation in your life and give yourself some peace. Specifically, while you can’t control everything, filtering the sounds around you can go a long way in lessening the impact of your environment.
There’s comfort in quiet. Think of it as a safe place for your brain. Less sound can restore your nervous system, help you sustain energy, condition your mind to be more adaptive and responsive, and is associated with the development of new cells in your hippocampus, where learning and memory occur.
Because we care 💜, here are some of our favorite noise busters to help turn down the volume of the soundtrack of your life and manage your cognitive overload:
Earplugs
Worn inside the ear canal, earplugs help people with ADHD, autism, *misophonia and other sensitivities get through their day and focus, by helping them tune out triggering and distracting sounds.
Earplugs options
Earbuds
Without entering the ear canal, earbuds rest in the outer ear. They’re small and light, which makes them very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Earbuds options
Noise cancelling headphones
Worn outside the ear, active noise canceling headphones are most useful for removing constant noise from lower ranges, such as white noise and other low-frequency sounds. Helpful in muting sounds like airplane engine noise, traffic, or any constant humming (hello, misophonia*), headphones can even silence some human chatter.
Noise cancelling headphones options
Earmuffs
Earmuffs come in a variety of models designed to fit most people. They block out noise by completely covering your outer ear. Some earmuffs also include electronic parts to help you communicate.
Earmuffs options
Like those who like to have a glass of wine (or something else) at the end of the day to take the edge off, tuning down your cognitive load during the day can help prevent the overload before it gets ahold of you. Whether for the day’s deluge of sounds, for travel or just for sleeping, bringing down the din can help preserve your energy, lessen your cognitive load, and help you be more present for the important things and people who need you.
*There’s a difference between misophonia, where you want to murder someone for chewing loudly, finger tapping, sniffing…breathing, and just plain being overstimulated and saturated by the world around you.
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