Time to DITCH EMOTIONAL CLUTTER

Lighten the load by finally freeing yourself from whatever is weighing on your mind

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Feel like something is holding you back? Bogged down by your thoughts and feelings? Whether you're seeking relief from a mental, emotional or physical burden, our experts are at hand with their advice on how to fix your overload issues so that you can resume operation at full power in 2026 - and beyond.

Offload your memory

'When we have a lot of tasks or information to remember, our working memory can become overwhelmed, leading to stress and anxiety,' says counselling psychologist Dr Rina Bajaj*. It can also make it more difficult to take action, as we may feel out of control, helpless or frozen by competing priorities.

TRY IT 'Use external memory aids, such as calendars and phone alerts, to free up your mental resources,' says Dr Bajaj. Lists are also indispensable. 'Use them to prioritise and break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps,' she adds.

STOP MULTITASKING

Trying to do everything all at once? This makes it hard to switch off, and can lead to an addled state of mind and poor sleep. 'With the fast-paced world creating an evermore stimulating space to live in, it's easy for our brains to be overwhelmed,' says Dr Mandana Ahmadi.