Overwhelmed: Ways to Take the Pressure Off

by Claudia Hammond

All of us are familiar with the unsettling sensation of it’s as if there’s ever more to do, and ever less time in which to do it. The good news is, even if you can’t see it yet, there is a way out.

In this liberating new book, award-winning writer and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind Claudia Hammond helps us to take the pressure off with a psychological toolkit that is both practical and evidence-based.

Each chapter addresses a particular problem that can trap us into feeling overwhelmed – from procrastination to the fear of regret, imposter syndrome, perfectionism and a seemingly never-ending to-do list – and offers science-backed solutions.

Calm, clear and convincing, Overwhelmed will give you the tools to take on everything life throws at you.

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning broadcaster, writer and psychology lecturer. She is the presenter of All in the Mind & Mind Changers on BBC Radio 4 and Health Check on BBC World Service Radio and BBC World News TV. She is a columnist for BBC.com and regularly appears on Impact on BBC World News to discuss research in psychology. Claudia is on the part-time faculty at Boston University's London base where she lectures in health and social psychology. She is an Associate Director of Hubbub - a 22 month residency examining the topic of rest at Wellcome Collection.

Reviews

[Francis Pellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative BBC Radio 4 book of the week. Claudia always makes her books so accessible

[Natalie Maltby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audiobook while crocheting. While it wasn’t groundbreaking she did make some interesting points.