Otherwise known as, “I can’t freaking hear myself think!”
Information overload, including too many choices, makes our brains considerably LESS functional.
It actually affects our ability to make creative, smart, or successful decisions.
The information overload is NOISE and it’s distracting the heck out of us.
A manageable amount of information stimulates our brain; a fire hose load or force of information creates super stress on our brains. Our decisions become less rational and make less sense.
Which means what? We make bad decisions when we are distracted and overloaded!
If you’ve been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know the answer to the question: how do I manage this information overload?
The answer: be discerning!
We simply cannot read it all, know it all, remember it all, take it all in, or successfully manage it all.
Therefore, we must be discerning about the information we allow in our lives.
Being discerning is a conscious and deliberate action (or set of actions, choices, and behaviors).
And to take this one level deeper, we must trust that the information we DO need will find us when we need it.
I know this advice sounds a little “wooo-wooo” to some of you. But if the alternative is stressing out because we’re afraid we’ll miss something important if we don’t try to read it all…well, for sanity’s sake, that’s the tradeoff I’m willing to make.
The Solution
So, what’s the solution to managing the information overload? Here are a few suggestions:
- Unsubscribe from all the information coming at you via email or snail mail. Pick the 4 or 5 really impactful information sources and stick to them.
- Use the RSS and newsfeed readers available via Google or Yahoo. Pull information to you that interests you. Scan it, and let it go. Know you can find it again when you might need it.
- Use real time searches through Twitter to find out what’s happening. Twitter is real people posting real events in real time.
- Don’t hoard information – on paper, electronically, or otherwise. See #2 above.
- Limit your time! Set a timer and keep your information scanning to a reasonable level – maybe 20 minutes a day.
- Quit watching the TV news. The programming is there to sell advertising. Therefore, the more extreme, sensational, and fear-based they can make it, the more people will feel compelled to watch. More people watching equals increased ratings equals increased advertising dollars.
Even if you try out one of two of these suggestions, you’ll find a significant reduction in the amount of information you’re trying (and probably failing) to consume. Your retention of the information you ARE taking in will be better. And your anxiety level will go down.
I’m hearing a lot these days about taking a digital vacation. I’d recommend YOU take one every so often – maybe as often as once a week.
My digital vacations happen on the weekends. I don’t even have TV at my house, so this isn’t a temptation for me. But I do unplug from email, news, etc. and hop into my kayak or lace up some hiking boots.
When you do decide to take your digital vacation, email me and let me know how it worked for you! You’ll be an inspiration to others thinking about trying it. Share your experience.
Still struggling to prioritize and reduce the information overload you’re feeling? Contact MBS, Inc. to help. Email is usually the first place start and we’re masters at reducing and managing it. Call us at (704) 553-8082 or email [email protected].