Intelligence Squared How To Take the Pressure Off and Live Well, with Claudia Hammond (Part One)
14 snips
Jan 21, 2026 
Claudia Hammond, a psychologist, broadcaster, and author known for her work on mental health, delves into the universal struggle of feeling overwhelmed. She offers scientific insights and practical strategies to combat procrastination, perfectionism, and emotional avoidance. Highlighting the importance of intentional news consumption, she emphasizes managing stress and setting realistic expectations. Claudia also discusses the soothing effects of nostalgia and ways to create work-life boundaries amid today's tech-driven lifestyle.
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Overwhelm Is A Modern Felt State
- Modern life produces a specific felt state of 'overwhelm' where inputs exceed coping capacity.
- Claudia Hammond frames overwhelm as common, variable, and not a clinical diagnosis but a lived emotional experience.
Prefer Evidence-Backed Techniques
- Use evidence-backed techniques rather than untested self-help.
- Claudia Hammond recommends practical takeaways drawn from psychology and neuroscience studies.
Impromptu Talk At St. Paul's
- Claudia Hammond tells how she was unexpectedly asked to give a talk at St. Paul's with no preparation.
- She used stress to narrow focus and improvised successfully, illustrating stress can sharpen performance.
