How To Get The Info You Need Without Losing Your Sanity

[Written in 2020. Stil extremely relevant]

With so many massive, rapid changes happening in the world, the potential for overwhelm and confusion is huge. The unknown feels more unknown than ever. There are so many important issues, and we feel like we need more and more information to make decisions or to know if we’re safe.

We have unlimited access to information—it’s constantly coming at us from every direction. It’s nearly impossible to escape. The thing is, our brains probably weren’t built to handle this kind of information overload. Honestly, even before the internet and the endless news cycle, we were already processing way more information on a daily basis than our brains were really designed for.

A few days ago, this talk by Dr. Amy Johnson popped up in my Facebook feed, and somehow, it was just the right moment for me. The thing is, it wasn’t even something new—it was simply a reminder of what we already know deep inside, arriving at exactly the right time.

The topic Amy spoke about feels especially relevant right now:
"Breaking the News Consumption Habit: How to Get the Information You Need Without Losing Your Sanity."

As Amy reminds us, even deciding what to eat for dinner can sometimes feel totally overwhelming.

And let’s be real—our minds also have their own endless feed. We scroll through that too, constantly searching for more information and solutions.

In reality, whether it's the news we consume online or in newspapers, or the thoughts that loop in our heads, so much of it is just recycled information—not truly new. Maybe slightly re-edited, maybe with different opinions attached, but how much of it do we really need?

Amy, with her background as a psychologist and researcher, is really good at explaining why our brains evolved the way they did—why we’re always scanning for danger and bracing for the next threat. And she’s also great at reminding us about our psychological immune system, where true decision-making comes from, and how it’s related to—but not dependent on—the amount of information we consume. She breaks down how solutions don’t actually come from more overthinking.

I don’t usually share links to talks this long (about an hour), but I highly recommend this one.

Maybe it’ll come at just the right time for you too.