The Four of Swords card shows a man resting. Represented by the Emperor in the Major Arcana, 'fours' are all about  finding stability and stillness. The swords, in their turn, indicate that this card is about mental stillness specifically.

 

People have been suffering from 'information overload' for millenia. In the 1st century AD for instance, Seneca the Elder complained that “the abundance of books is distraction”. And in our modern day and age, we are bombarded with information as never before. The intense interconnectedness brought about by the rise of the internet has had many positive consequences, but it has also caused many to be continually distracted.  The constant influx of information is becoming counterproductive. Often, having an overflowing schedule, regularly working overtime, and not getting enough sleep seem to be feats worn as a badge of honor in our society. Constant productivity is the ideal.

 

But those who suffer from a burnout know that there is a limit to what the mind can handle. We get anxious and irritable. We become addicted to gathering ever more information, perhaps not fully grasping Einstein's suggestion that “Information is not knowledge.”

 

How can we prevent our minds being overloaded? Here's some ideas:

 

• Instead of preoccupying yourself with everything you still need or want to do, make a list.

• Don't multitask. Focus on one thing at a time.

• Limit the amount of choices you have to make each day.

• Make rules for yourself about when and how long you are allowed to check emails, social media &c. There are many great browser extensions and apps that can help you with this, shutting off access to specific websites after a certain amount of time, or shutting off all access to the outside world for a predetermined period of time.

• Be picky about what you allow in your RSS feed, your Facebook news feed, &c. Consider spending less time on watching or reading the news. You cannot possibly keep on top of everything interesting happening in the world.

• Take regular breaks, or even naps.

• Ask yourself, 'Do I really need to know this?' and 'Do I really care?'

• Instead of trying to fill every 5 minutes in a productive way, allow for some aimless daydream. Stop listening to that interesting podcast while waiting for the train, don't get your book out five minutes before dinner time - just let your mind wander. New ideas don't originate in active, conscious thought anyway (as the High Priestess reminds us).

• Actively create pockets of stillness in your life by meditating, walking in the woods, doing yoga, or any other activity that allows you to let go of turbulent thought processes.

• Don't be afraid of boredom. It is not without its purpose.

• Sleep enough. For most, 7 to 8 hours a day is best, although this varies per person. Research has shown that a good sleep cycle is not only immensely important to our health, it also boosts happiness.

 

Instead of uselessly taking up time, you'll find that these interventions actually boost productivity and creativity. Without enough rest and quiet reflection, the mind doesn't work nearly as well.