Do you get overwhelmed by the amount of information you receive each day? Try these solutions!

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by all the information available in our current world that I just want to pull my hair out! Do you as well?

I know the problem: the multitude of physical and digital sources of information processed visually and auditorily add up to tons of data!!! And that’s before we receive it, filter it through our individual brains and create new material!

You may think that you have to know everything about certain topics. This is especially true when you want to make an informed decision. It could be anything from the purchase of a home or major appliance, to the best option to treat cancer.

Yes, I know those may not sound like “equal” decisions. However, when you’re gathering information, your brain often says, “the more the better” regardless of the type of decision.

The truth of the matter is that it’s impossible to collect every piece of information about a subject…even if you only wanted the accurate data.?

In 2018, DOMO reported, “Over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every single day, and it’s only going to grow from there. By 2020, it’s estimated that 1.7MB of data will be created every second for every person on earth.“

My brain hurts just thinking about this statistic! And I’m sure the number has increased now that it’s 2021.

You’re desire for information negatively impacts your professional and personal life in multiple ways:

• lost sleep when you have to check “just one more website” for a better deal
• plagued by decision-fatigue due to so many options
• late paying bills because you misplaced the (paper or electronic) bill
• lack of personal time because you’re always on the hunt for more facts
• and more…

Here’s the thing, unless you take action, these problems will continue!

Here are five ways to address your information-overwhelm:

DECREASE SOURCES

Take “today’s” news, for example. Between electronic and hard-copy newspapers, TV, and the internet, there are innumerable ways to catch current happenings. My head hurts just thinking about all of the possible sources! And that’s before any anxiety from the actual topic of any news stories!!!

Consider the following:

• If you receive three different newspapers (electronic or paper), cancel two.
• If you usually watch news on five separate channels (TV or web), eliminate three of them.

Other examples of cutting off information-overwhelm at the source include:

• If you subscribe to three publications on a current hobby, let two lapse.
• If you receive 10 e-newsletters about the same topic, unsubscribe from five.

You can start slowly. Discontinue one, then a few months later, stop another.

REGULATE TIME

You hear a ding from a device or see a quick flash out of the corner of your eye. New information just popped up on your screen! Whether you retrieve the new material right then or wait until later, you may spend a great deal of time browsing new information. And, you may spend many minutes seeking follow-up material to previous findings.

Regulate the amount of time you spend on any given task. You may respond to an audible timer or you may need an app that only permits a defined length of time on specified websites.

LIMIT FREQUENCY

Overall it’s great to lessen the amount of screen time – for people of all ages – but I’m not going there.? Instead let’s talk about reducing how many times you check email.

If you check your email each time you get a notification, you lose lots of productivity over the course of a day. Not to mention this quote from Marty Clarke, “Keep in mind that email is essentially a speed medium. Communicating through email buys you incredible speed. And this speed exists on both sides of the communication.”

I’m not talking about going cold turkey, or even only checking it three times a day – though that would be great! I’m just saying to become aware of how often and how long you currently spend on email and start cutting these amounts over time.

REDUCE LOCATIONS

Between physical and digital spots, there are endless places for you to keep the information you need to reference in the future. And that’s the problem! There are so many options that it’s challenging to determine the best storage method. When it’s time for retrieval, it’s equally overwhelming to recall where you stored the data.

An easy solution is to trim the possibilities.

With physical data, rather than multiple file cabinets in several rooms, decrease the number of file drawers. If we’re talking about physical magazines, books, catalogs, etc., try one or two categories per space.

Because we can’t “see” electronic information, it feels easier to “just save it” somewhere. But when you have too many “somewhere’s” then the problems start. Stop using digital storage methods that aren’t user-friendly. Condense smaller data sites into a single, larger one. Be deliberate when opening new cloud accounts.

INCREASE FLOW

If information is always flowing in, eventually you’ll have a log-jam: in your brain, hard-drive, or file cabinet.

The solution: ensure that information flows in AND out. Delete old or obsolete data. Need some ideas? Read Apply These 4 Secret Techniques to Help You Determine the Expiration Date of Papers (& then delete them).

I realize that these five techniques themselves may feel overwhelming. Here’s what you do:

1. Choose the category that seems the easiest to you. For example, increasing flow may sound doable.
2. Pick one small action to take within that category. Perhaps you recycle flyers and other advertisements that come in the mail. Or each day you select one piece of paper on the top of a pile and take the next action (response, file, recycle, etc.)
3. Try this for 14 days.
4. Evaluate whether or not you are consistent. If you’re not, what’s keeping you stuck?
5. Depending on your answer, you may adjust this “first round” of action to gain consistency or you might add another tiny step in the same category or you could select a small task within the next category with which you feel you’d experience success. If you select choice number three, maybe you decrease one source of news.
6. Keep plugging away little-by-little.

I’d love to know the category and mini-action you choose first!

Leave your response below. I’d love to cheer you on!