Protect your brain from the chaos of overstimulation.

Since my last article on overstimulation , "The Nighttime Habit That's Sabotaging Your Learning," I thought it would be important to continue this discussion. So, first, I want to show you how the reality we live in is shaping our brains, increasingly diminishing our ability to focus and learn.

But before continuing here, I suggest you read the other post first, as it contains concepts that I won't delve into here.

For example: have you ever found yourself watching a series, watching videos on Instagram, and simultaneously chatting with a friend on WhatsApp? See how many things you're doing at the same time?

It is in this scenario that overstimulation occurs, a condition in which the brain needs to process more stimuli than it can organize. And, from a neuroscientific point of view, you need to know: the human brain was not designed to handle multiple sources of relevant information at the same time.

The reality is that this habit has become part of our daily lives. And it is precisely from this reality that many questions arise, such as:

"I no longer feel like reading." "Why can't I remember what I read?" "I'm so young and I'm already forgetting so many things."

It is in this scenario that memory, attention, and learning are being profoundly affected. This is the consequence of being overstimulated from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to sleep.

For this reality to change, you need to learn how to protect your brain so that it doesn't collapse.

There is a system in our brain called the Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS) , located in the brainstem. This system regulates alertness and acts as a filter, deciding which sensory stimuli reach consciousness. Under normal conditions, it protects the brain from overload and also helps to prioritize what truly deserves attention.

What science reveals about this stimulus collapse.

When we are exposed to many stimuli at the same time, the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) begins to fail in its filtering function. The result is a state of constant hyperalertness , in which the brain remains in survival mode, consuming a large amount of metabolic energy.

Studies in cognitive neuroscience demonstrate that continuous multitasking:

• reduces the efficiency of the prefrontal cortex (region of focus, planning and control),

• It impairs memory consolidation in the hippocampus.

• It increases levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.

According to research from Stanford University (Ophir et al., 2009), people exposed to multiple sources of stimuli have a reduced ability to filter out irrelevant information , poorer working memory performance, and greater mental fatigue.

In other words: the more stimuli, the less clarity, the less memory, and the less learning.

Why does your brain start to "freeze"?

The human brain functions by conserving energy. When it is constantly bombarded with notifications, videos, sounds, images, and rapid changes in focus, it enters a state called cognitive overload .

In this state:

• attention becomes fragmented,

• memory does not consolidate.

• the feeling of tiredness increases,

• Motivation decreases.

How to start protecting your brain

Protecting the brain today is a cognitive survival skill.

Some simple and scientifically supported practices:

• Monotasking blocks : perform one activity at a time for at least 25 minutes.

• Consciously reducing stimuli : turning off notifications, silencing apps, reducing screen size.

• Daily moments of neural silence : walking, breathing, not consuming content.

• Sleep hygiene : avoid screens at least 60 minutes before bedtime.

These actions restore the healthy functioning of the RAAS, allowing the brain to once again filter, organize, and prioritize.

Final Insight: Lavender

Overstimulation doesn't destroy the brain all at once. It tires it slowly, day by day, until focus, memory, and the joy of learning disappear.