Mindfulness for the Overloaded Brain: Why We All Need It

Genie Love • March 18, 2025

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I think every organization should offer some form of mindfulness instruction and practice. We all need it. There is just way too much noise and stress in our lives—worries about our kids, our aging parents, the economy and job market, national and international politics... There’s also an overwhelming amount of information about what we should be doing for our mental and physical health, and no time to do it all. On top of that, we stress about our personal screen time (and that of those we care about). It’s endless.


And if you’re neurodivergent, racing and spiraling thoughts often compound due to the way your brain works. They’re louder. And you may worry about being found out at work or struggling to mask your challenges. It’s like turning the volume on these stressors way up. (Check out my latest Neurodiversity Insights in 20 to learn more about sensory overwhelm.)


Key Components of Mindfulness (according to Perplexity):

  • Awareness: Being fully present and attentive to one's experiences.
  • Nonjudgmental Observation: Observing thoughts and feelings without evaluating them.
  • Acceptance: Embracing experiences without resistance or attachment.
  • Present-Moment Focus: Concentrating on the current moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.


According to me:

  • Quieting your brain, thoughts, and emotions.
  • Getting out of fight, flight, or freeze mode so you can decide the next best steps to take.


I’m not talking about 20-30 minute meditation sessions every day that feel overwhelming... another thing to fit into your busy life. I’m talking about 1-2 minute mini-sessions throughout your day that bring you back to the present, over and over, until you learn to recognize when your thoughts are spiraling and have strategies to quiet them. So you can choose where you want your attention to go. So you can tell those thoughts: Not now.


It’s not easy. It takes effort. But at this point, the research is pretty clear—mindfulness has significant benefits. And I believe it should be available to everyone.


Even as I have been writing this, I got some bad news. And it’s spiraling around in my head, threatening to derail my day. And I have things to do. So now, I get to practice... all day. Every time I feel disappointment start to spiral, I’ll take note of it, feel it, remind myself that it’s okay to feel disappointed, not push it away, and then take the next step forward—over and over and over.


Who doesn’t need help with this?

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