2026 Marketing: Brands Offer Calm & Ease to Overloaded Minds, Gain Unfair Edge

• 2026 marketing shifts from an 'attention crisis' to a 'cognitive crisis' as consumers face exhaustion, not just distraction.
• Algorithms increasingly mediate decisions, turning consumers into 'decision editors' rather than primary decision-makers.
• Brands must reduce cognitive load and offer 'ease' – emotional, cognitive, and behavioural – to win in an overwhelmed market.
• The traditional marketing funnel collapses; brands offering predictability and emotional safety become psychological anchors.
• Creativity must evolve from cleverness to caring, focusing on pattern-building and rituals over campaigns to embed brands into daily life.

Why It Matters: In an overloaded world, brands that offer ease, predictability, and emotional safety will gain the ultimate advantage.