Why are you looking?
We are in an age of information overload - here's what you can do to slow it down.
While you can't see it or touch it, the most valuable thing you have is your attention.
We are simply inundated with too many choices. Yesterday, I wanted to make chickpea avocado toast and google gave me 2.69m results. There are over 1.8 billion websites out there, and on average 571 new ones are created every minute!
While you may not be looking for avocado toast, you are likely looking to stay informed. And what 2020 has highlighted is that too much information can not only misinform but paralyze you.
Infobesity is the realization that there’s so much data in your head and you can no longer think clearly. Information overload makes it difficult to trust what you read and make decisions.
Given the situation, it is not surprising that many of us feel an urgent need for a detox.
Here are some of the ways that consuming too much information affects you:
Brain Fog
There is only a certain amount of information a human brain can process at one time. When we exceed that limit, symptoms of cognitive overload occur. i.e. Brain Fog.
Poor Decision Making
When your brain is tired from processing too much information, the last thing it needs is another energy-consuming process like decision-making. That’s why even minor decisions such as which recipe to choose or what kind of coffee to buy can feel so challenging when you’re overloaded with information.
Lack of Motivation
Since your willpower uses the same energy stores as decision-making, your ability to stay motivated and productive can be impaired when there is too much information in your head.
Anxiety
Information overdose can also aggravate any anxiety one is already feeling. If we take information overload for what it is– a source of stress–it all starts to make sense. Something tells me this feels very relevant to many this year.
Poor Choices
If you consume way too much information, it becomes harder to distinguish between high-quality and poor-quality content. The outcome can be dramatic. If you can’t distinguish between good and bad sources, it becomes a lot easier to be manipulated.
Information overload is a serious issue that won’t go away on its own. The only thing cure is self-control.
So, what steps can we take to limit the amount of information we consume?
Trust Certain Sources
No matter what you’ve been searching for, chances are high that you’ve collected at least some poorly-sourced information. Take time to review it with fresh eyes and filter out the unhelpful content. By limiting the amount of sites you use, you’ll get more trustful information to use.
Don’t Procrastinate
We consume a ridiculous amount of information because we are bored. By reading yet another article, we feel that we are being productive but we are not. Take that time and doing something good – it will make you a more complete and educated person. Consuming information just for the sake of it gets you nowhere.
Be Lazy
Do your brain a favor and get off the computer for a few hours every day, and disable annoying notifications. Just take time to do nothing. Be lazy. I would even avoid newspapers or books.
Want Some Practical Solutions?
Buy a Cheap Watch
I just bought this watch on Amazon for $12. Not only does it tell time but tracks my steps. Now when I walk away from my computer, I don’t need to pick up my phone to check the time which can lead to useless scrolling.
Put a Rubber Band on Your Phone
This is a cheap effective solution. By having to remove a rubber band from your phone you take a small step to pause and ask yourself if its really worth it. If this stops you just a few times a day from mindlessly checking your screen, it’s worth the effort.
Download this screensaver I made just for you. Works on all devices and is proven to be a critical time saver according to me. (It’s on my phone right now.)
Download Stretchly
This is a great extension for your computer. This will give you timely 15 or 30 minute pop-ups reminding you to step away from your screen.
Drink Water
There are so many benefits to hydrating. And if you really work at getting the required amount of water per day, you’ll be more likely to take bathroom breaks which will pull you away from the screen. A win-win.
10-Minute Workouts
Each time you are tempted to look at your screen, get in 10 minutes of exercise in instead. Your body will thank you.
Journal
Buy a journal and each time you are tempted to write something down on your notes app, use pen and paper. It’s proven that when you write something down, you remember more.
The age of too much information will not stop anytime soon but taking some of these steps can help limit the amount and give you some much needed headspace back for more important things.
If you have other ideas, I’d love for you to share in the comments below.
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