Nick Pridachin Blog

How to keep sanity in the age of overload

Introduction

We live in an era of infinite distractions—endless notifications, overflowing inboxes, and the constant pressure to “keep up.” Productivity has become synonymous with burnout, and our digital habits leave us exhausted rather than empowered. How to Keep Sanity in the Age of Overload is a lifeline for anyone drowning in the chaos of modern work and life.

This book isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters—with clarity, calm, and control. Drawing from neuroscience, time-tested productivity frameworks, and minimalist principles, I’ll guide you through actionable strategies to:

  • Declutter your mind and prioritize ruthlessly.
  • Design a “stress-free productivity” system that works for you, not against you.
  • Master “digital fasting” to break addictive tech cycles and reclaim focus.
  • Build resilience against overwhelm in a world that never stops demanding your attention.

Whether you’re a busy professional, entrepreneur, or simply someone yearning for peace in the noise, this book will help you transform overload into intentional living.

Part I: The Age of Overload

  1. Why We’re All Drowning
    • The psychology of distraction: How our brains react to infinite inputs.
    • The myth of multitasking and the cost of context-switching.
  2. The Productivity Paradox
    • Why “getting more done” often leaves us feeling emptier.
    • Case studies: How overload sabotages creativity and decision-making.

Part II: Stress-Free Productivity

  1. The Sanity Filter
    • A simple framework to separate urgent, important, and noise.
    • How to say “no” without guilt.
  2. The 90-Minute Workday
    • Leveraging ultradian rhythms for deep work.
    • Time-blocking for mortals (no 5 AM routines required).
  3. Email & Notifications on a Diet
    • Taming the inbox beast with batch processing.
    • The “notification bankruptcy” reset.

Part III: Digital Fasting

  1. The Art of Unplugging
    • Micro-fasts: 1-hour to 1-day digital detoxes.
    • How to quit doomscrolling (without feeling FOMO).
  2. The Minimalist Tech Stack
    • Tools that actually simplify your life (and ones to ditch).
    • Setting up “focus zones” in your home and devices.

Part IV: Sustaining Sanity

  1. The Overload-Proof Mindset
    • Embracing “enough” in a world of more.
    • Rituals for mental resilience (morning/nightly anchors).
  2. Leading Teams Without Burnout
    • How managers can reduce collective overload.
    • Async communication and meeting hygiene.
  3. Your Personal Sanity Blueprint
  • A step-by-step plan to customize your anti-overload toolkit.