We live in the Age of Information, where the answers to almost any question are at our fingertips. All that information is a wonderful thing.
Until it becomes too much.
Do you ever feel like you are barely keeping your head above water? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by too much information? I know I do.
Too much information
Once upon a time we had a much smaller stream of information to deal with. The main sources included:
- Newspapers and magazines
- TV and videos/DVDs
- Junk mail
- Radio
- House phone
- Workplace inbox
- Books
These days we’ve added the following:
- Email (multiple accounts)
- Texting
- Social media
- Podcasts
- YouTube and other video channels
- Spotify and similar services
- Blogs
- Other internet sites
- Adware
- Streaming
- E-commerce
- Smartphones
- Kindles, tablets, laptops
- Etc.
The deluge of information is not going to disappear. If anything, it will continue to increase, so we had better learn how to cope with it. If we’re tired of treading water while the flood of information threatens to send us under, we need to become more intentional consumers of information.
How to become a more intentional consumer of information.
1 Give your weary senses a rest.
You and I need time away from the flood to regroup. You must take control of how and when you interact with it.
- Designate certain times or places that are device-free. For example, try leaving your phone in the car when you go out to eat, or ban all devices from the dinner table.
- Practice daydreaming. Instead of filling every spare moment with input, give your brain free time to wander. A few moments of boredom will not kill you.
- Accept uncertainty. No matter how many reviews you read, you will never have enough information to be completely certain about a decision. That’s life. Learn what you can in a reasonable amount of time, make a decision, and get on with life.
2 Clear out unnecessary clamor.
Some of the stream bombarding us can be sent packing. Here are three ways to thin out the flood.
- From blogs, newsletters, and all retail emails. Yes, it takes time to click through the unsubscribe process, but any legitimate business is required to provide an unsubscribe option. Take it.
- Set up automatic filters for your email so non-critical info goes directly to a folder rather than clogging up your primary inbox. (If you don’t want to unsubscribe from your favorite stores, create a filter so you only look at the deals when you actually need something from that store.)
- Turn off push notifications. Gain control of your inboxes and social media streams by choosing when to look at them instead of letting them choose for you. Every notification you allow demands your attention and becomes an excuse for distraction.
3 Curate what’s left.
Evaluate the various sources of information you regularly consume and decide which ones are no longer worth your time and attention.
- Downsize your internet stream. What inputs (blogs, social media accounts, etc.) do you no longer need to visit? Maybe they were useful for a time but you’ve moved on. Maybe you’ve found better sources for that information. Reduce your regular inputs so you only spend time on the best.
- Magazines and newspapers. Do you actually take time to read them or do they pile up and make you feel guilty for ignoring them? Do you find joy in reading them or do they just add to the stress? If they are no longer meeting your needs, maybe you cancel your subscription.
- TV, streaming, etc. Is the stuff you are watching good for you or is it adding to your stress level? Is it time to quit watching certain shows because they poison your attitude? Or maybe you need to reconsider how much time you spend each week in front of a screen.
How often do you feel like you are drowning in too much information? How do you handle it?
