Why You’re Always Overwhelmed | The Psychology of Priorities & Procrastination

What if the problem isn’t that you’re lazy… but that modern life is designed to overwhelm you? In this episode of Psychology, Actually, Dr Marianne Trent is joined by author Lily Silverton to explore the psychology of procrastination, overwhelm, attention, comparison and why so many people struggle to prioritise what actually matters. If you constantly feel behind, overstimulated or exhausted by competing demands, this conversation may really resonate. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Netflix says sleep is the competition 01:07 Why prioritising matters psychologically 01:59 A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention 03:10 Even the Romans felt overwhelmed 04:32 Why modern companies compete for your focus 05:55 The psychology of procrastination 08:30 Emotional avoidance and fear of failure 09:59 Why “future you” won’t magically change 11:47 Breaking tasks down and body doubling 15:02 The Eisenhower Matrix explained 17:22 Why small tasks feel addictive 18:03 Other people’s urgency isn’t always yours 19:20 Boundaries, parenting and workload pressure 22:10 Comparison, social media and self-worth 24:23 When social media becomes self-harm 25:21 “Do you actually want their whole life?” 28:13 Resetting your algorithm and protecting wellbeing 29:28 The Wellbeing Cups exercise 31:01 Why Lily wrote Prioritise This 33:33 Inner Work and deeper reflections Check out Lily's Book, Prioritise This: https://amzn.to/432A2Su Follow Lily on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/lily_silverton/ 🔔 Subscribe for More Psychology Insights! 👉 Never miss an episode: Subscribe now 📚 My Books on Amazon 📖 The Grief Collective → https://amzn.to/4hNHru5 📖 The Clinical Psychologist Collective → https://amzn.to/3ErIEJs 📖 The Aspiring Psychologist Collective → https://amzn.to/4jSxc9N 📖 Talking Heads: Stories of Psychology & Mental Health → https://amzn.to/3EvbKaN 📖 An Autistic Anthology: Neuro-Narratives of Mental Health Professionals → https://amzn.to/3WXBpz9 🎧 Stay Connected With Me 🌍 Aspiring Psychologists Website: www.aspiring-psychologist.co.uk 🌍 Good Thinking Psychology Website: www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk 💼 LinkedIn: Dr Marianne Trent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marianne-trent-psychology/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodThinkingPsychologicalServices 🐦 Twitter/X: @DrMarianneTrent 📸 Instagram: @DrMarianneTrent 🎵 TikTok: @DrMarianneTrent 📩 Business & Collaboration Enquiries ✉️ Email: Info@GoodThinkingPsychology.co.uk ⚡ Want More? Check These Out! 🔹 Join the Aspiring Psychologist Membership: Learn more here 🔹 Download my FREE Psychology Success Guide: Grab your copy here ⚠️ Disclaimer This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk. 💡 Want to support the channel? Like, comment, and share this video! © Dr Marianne Trent