How To Avoid Information Overload

Written by Melanie Kissell on May 27, 2009 8:17 pm

Between the television news, email, the radio, the print media and internet blogs, chat rooms,
news feeds and social media not to mention text messages and good old fashioned phone calls,
it's amazing we ever get anything accomplished!
In fact, the average person spends about nine hours a day using some sort of media according
to a study conducted by Ball State University. That's a lot of information!

Here are a few tips to overcome information overload:

#1 Set priorities. Gleaning information from multiple sources is a good idea if you're
writing a report or a book, but if you're simply looking to access the local weather and
traffic report, one medium can surely provide that information. Set your information
priorities and then determine the single one or two sources from which you'll acquire that
information.

#2 Choose tools that allow you to get info on a timeline that works best for you. There are
wonderful tools available today to help you gain quick access to the information you need.
For example, a DVR will let you record predetermined television shows, an RSS reader will let
you pull feeds from blogs and websites you subscribe to, and Google will enable you to label
your email messages so you know which ones are important and which ones can wait until later.

#3 Set a limit. If you find that a particular medium drains an abundance of your time,
social networking or email for example, you can schedule your time with those particular sites.
For example, instead of leaving your email open you can choose to access it at lunchtime and
again at the end of the day. Social networking can be set aside until later in the evening
and you can give yourself 20 minutes each morning to read the news or watch it on television.

#4 Take information vacations. Whether you turn off all media for a day, for the weekend,
for a week or even for a month, taking a vacation from information will help you see that you
can in fact live without it. This break will help you set priorities and get your life back
from information overload.

#5 Organize and label. Email messages can often be sorted and labeled and even stored in
folders so you can access them on an as needed basis. Information, for example blogs,
newsletters, and content you receive can also be sorted and organized for easy access. This
process saves you time from having to consume information when you receive it. Now you can
access it when and if you need it and save yourself valuable time.

Ultimately, you're in control of your time and the information you consume. Set priorities,
use the tools and technology available, and keep yourself organized for a streamlined and
stress-free approach to information.