058: Processing Information Overload
Emails. Tweets. Texts. DMs. Slacks. Facebook Notifications. The constant flow of content being pumped into our brains is difficult to process, hence the term INFORMATION OVERLOAD. Even if it’s totally useless knowledge, it’s nearly impossible to ignore. Humans are super-efficient at downloading information. We recognize images within fractions of a second, scan hundreds of words per minute, and very rapidly formulate opinions and thoughts on the information we download. However, as the volume of data we take in increases, our capability to digest it lessens. To compound the issue, once we are distracted, our brains need an average of 25 minutes to refocus on your original task. Workers and managers alike report significant increases in stress levels, poor health, strained personal and professional relationships and reduced job satisfaction because of information overload. Quote: “We are bombarded on all sides by a vast number of messages we don’t want or need. More information is generated in a single day than we can absorb in a lifetime. To fully enjoy life, all of us must find our own breathing space and peace of mind.” ― James E. Faust How do we find our own breathing space and peace of mind in a new world plagued by information overload?!? Give yourself the freedom and power to IGNORE information. Set boundaries with your response times to emails and texts for example. To prepare for the somewhat unavoidable information overload that we all experience daily, it’s important to engage in lengthy streams of consciousness or brain dumps! Take the time to offload as much information as you can. When the pressure from information overload is mounting, TAKE A BREAK. When you control information, and do not allow information to control you, the opportunities are virtually ENDLESS. While most drown in the sea of never-ending data, you can be one of the few surfing the waves of information into the sunset. Filter the information. Prioritize the information. Categorize the information. Act on it or delete it. Be decisive and selective with the information that comes across your desk or feed.