OK, I’m putting this out there: Have you ever found yourself in what feels like the Twilight Zone?
Not the old TV show—I’m talking about that mental fog you slip into when your brain is overloaded, you’re juggling too much, and your body is technically present, but your mind is three tabs deep into unfinished tasks, unread texts, and overlapping mental checklists.
I’ve been there. More than once.
Thankfully, I have the kind of friends who love me enough to call it out—with humor and heart. They’re the watch-your-kids-overnight-and-have-gourmet-breakfast-waiting kind of friends. Truly, the best. And they’re also the ones who coined the term “Twilight Zone” to describe the dazed, disconnected state I occasionally (OK, often) slip into.
And they were right. That label stuck. Because it perfectly describes what happens when life gets too loud and I try to do it all at once.
The Twilight Zone creeps in when:
- You’re trying to mentally rehearse tomorrow’s presentation while replying to a text while making dinner while nodding through a conversation you’re not really hearing.
- You’re staring at your laptop and realize you’ve read the same sentence five times.
- You suddenly become aware that someone’s been talking to you and you have no idea what they just said.
Sound familiar?
This state of “being here, but not really here” is something we all fall into. Our brains are overloaded by constant pings, updates, schedules, and responsibilities. Multitasking might sound productive, but study after study shows it’s not. It’s just distraction in disguise—and it’s mentally exhausting.
Even more important? People notice. Your presence—or lack of it—sends a message, whether you intend to or not. I’m lucky to have friends who gently (and honestly) help me see it and steer me back. Because the truth is: we can’t afford to live in the Twilight Zone. Not for long.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
The only real antidote to the Twilight Zone is presence.
Being present doesn’t mean having it all together or living distraction-free. It means noticing. Returning. Choosing to engage—fully and purposefully. Whether you’re spending time with your family, leading a meeting, or just taking a walk by yourself, presence is what turns routine into connection and chaos into clarity.
So yes, I still love technology. I still rely on it. But I also know it has limits—and so do I. That’s where discipline comes in. Boundaries. Intentionality. Self-awareness.
We all drift. The key is catching ourselves—and having people around us who care enough to help us find our way back.
So if you’ve been in the Twilight Zone lately, you’re not alone. But take this as your nudge:
Put the phone down. Close the tab. Take a breath. Look someone in the eyes.
Come back to this moment.
Because this is where your life actually is.
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