Six Specific Factors Explaining Current Feelings of Overwhelm
According to Luke Aliga in an article published on Jul 23, 2026 for Yourtango Relationships Magazine, the sentiment that life feels significantly more difficult now than it did five years ago is a widespread experience rather than an individual perception. The author states directly: "Life really does feel harder than it did just 5 years ago." Aliga asserts in his piece titled "6 Legitimate Reasons Life Feels A Lot Harder Now Than It Did Even Just 5 Years Ago" that readers are not imagining this shift in reality. The publication notes that the world has changed rapidly over the past five-year period, and many of these specific changes have made daily management more challenging for individuals. Aliga lists several distinct elements contributing to this exhaustion. The article suggests that while life can feel exhausting under current conditions, readers are not alone in their experience.
The Impact of Rising Political Division
Aliga identifies increased political polarization as the first factor contributing to why managing daily existence feels more burdensome today compared to five years ago. The text explicitly states: "From rising political polarization... it's a lot for anyone to take in." This specific element is presented alongside other factors that collectively add weight to what individuals carry.
The Burden of Post-Pandemic Recovery
Surviving the pandemic is cited as another major contributor to the current sense of difficulty. The article lists "surviving a pandemic" specifically among the changes people are processing. Aliga writes that these events, combined with others like surveillance and algorithmic shifts, create an environment where individuals feel they must carry more than ever before.
Constant Surveillance in Daily Life
The article describes being "under surveillance 24/7" as a contributing factor to the feeling of life being harder. This specific phrase appears directly in Aliga's text when listing reasons why it is difficult for anyone to take in all current events. The note regarding constant surveillance suggests that this state affects how individuals manage their daily responsibilities and mental load.
Algorithms Designed to Maintain Attention
A fourth reason provided by the source involves social media algorithms. Aliga explains: "For the past 5 years, the algorithms on our social media pages have become increasingly curated." He notes that these systems are now narrowly focused on content designed specifically to keep user attention. The article details how this curation works regardless of whether a user actually follows the person posting the content. Aliga states: "regardless of whether we even follow the person." This mechanism allows platforms to push specific types of information toward users, independent of their direct connections or preferences.
Social Comparison and Perceived Lack
The text explains that these algorithms make it easier for individuals to encounter people who appear to possess things they feel they lack. Aliga writes: "This has made it way too easy for us to keep interacting with people who have what we feel we lack." This interaction occurs even when the user does not follow those accounts, driven by the algorithm's focus on maintaining attention. The article suggests that this dynamic makes social comparison significantly easier than in previous years. By highlighting content that triggers feelings of lacking something possessed by others, these systems contribute to an environment where life feels harder to manage. The source emphasizes that users are kept interacting with these curated feeds because the algorithms prioritize engagement over user choice.
The Cumulative Effect on Mental Load
Aliga concludes his list by summarizing the collective impact of these six reasons. He states: "We're all carrying more than ever." This observation ties together political polarization, pandemic survival, surveillance, and algorithmic curation into a single picture of increased burden. The author suggests that compassion for oneself and kindness toward others matter more than ever in this context. However, the article focuses primarily on identifying these six legitimate reasons rather than offering solutions beyond suggesting self-compassion. The source maintains that understanding these specific factors helps explain why so many people feel overwhelmed today. Aliga's writing presents these points as factual explanations for a shift in how life feels to millions of readers over the last five years. The article does not speculate on future changes but focuses entirely on identifying current reasons for increased difficulty.
The text ends by reinforcing that if life feels harder than it used to, understanding these six factors provides an explanation. Aliga writes: "If Life Feels A Lot Harder Than It Did Just 5 Years Ago, These 6 Reasons Help Explain Why." The piece serves as a direct response to the feeling of exhaustion many readers express regarding current conditions compared to five years ago.