We often become overwhelmed when the brain receives too much information at once. This interferes with our abilities to focus, think clearly or stay calm. For example, an overwhelmed individual may feel annoyed or drained, act confused or frustrated and not be able to make sensible decisions. Being overwhelmed is unpleasant, to say the least, and is only exacerbated by the internet and social media. However, what if the problem isn’t a brain overload as a result of too much stimuli, but rather because of the type of stimuli? What if all of these symptoms emerge from a lack of change in how our brain inputs certain information and circumstances?
In small doses, moments that feel like we are overworking our brain might actually be what our brain needs to stay resilient, adaptable and alive. Research in neuroscience shows that exposure to certain environments, complex problem-solving and diverse stimuli triggers the release of dopamine and promotes neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. For instance, forcing our brain’s networks to adapt rather than run on autopilot encourages the brain to learn how to withstand the stress. A static environment may feel peaceful, but also leads to stagnation. When the brain has nothing to push against, it just engages in autopilot.
Studies demonstrate an “inverted-U” relationship between brain stimulation and its effects. Under-utilizing the brain leads to stagnation, while overuse from chronic, unmanageable stress causes burnout. However, moderate-to-high active cognitive challenge hits the sweet spot that encourages learning and strengthens the brain without resulting in exhaustion. Engaging in diverse intellectual challenges helps build cognitive reserve, essentially making the brain more resilient. Studies on lifelong learning improves cognitive flexibility and memory performance over time. In other words, the main issue is not a busy brain, but rather a stagnant one.
That being said, scrolling through TikTok at 2 a.m. while a TV plays in the background is not the same thing as healthily stimulating the brain. Ironically, it likely falls into the category of under-stimulating the brain. However, embracing high-intensity mental engagement, such as juggling creative ideas, diving deep into rapid-fire learning or immersing in vibrant experiences, helps to exercise our brain’s systems. It may feel chaotic at first, much like a workout, but just like that workout, research suggests that the brain flourishes when given a rich, diverse diet of active mental challenges rather than a vacuum of total stillness and social media induced dazes. Blocking ourselves mentally from the world to find peace is unnecessary. Instead, we should change how we interpret and accept the chaos in our lives. Thus, the next time you feel overloaded from dealing with life, avoid shutting down mentally or mindlessly scrolling through social media. Instead, accept the fact, and let the brain restructure to embrace it.