Dealing with Information Overload
We are a society and culture that more and more is being bombarded by Facebook, Twitter, texts, Kindles and iPads. We have so many streams of information that we are finding it hard to move forward with life and business. Newsweek magazine ran an article in their March 7th print edition about how research is pointing toward how too much information can result in poorer choices.
Two really interesting bits of information I found from reading the article.
- Our brains are wired so that we give more importance to things most recently noticed.
- True creativity comes more readily from unconscious thought than actively attempting to solve a problem.
So what do you do? How to you make sure that you are both aware of what’s happening in the world (or connected), yet aren’t overwhelmed? Well, let me share a couple of tips that I’ve been putting into practice that seem to help me in my creative process.
Give yourself a break from “screen time.”
It’s something that most parents require of their kids, but don’t always practice ourselves. We only allow our kids in front of a screen (TV, computer, iPod, gameboy, etc) for limited amounts of time. However, many of us are forced to sit in front of a computer screen for hours at a time for marketing, retouching, sales, editing, generally running our businesses. During that time we reward ourselves by letting us go to Facebook or Twitter or our favorite blog or forum to check out what’s going on.
The problem becomes when we can’t let that “world” go. We think we need to catch up on the news or our twitter feed, but what we really need is space from our screen. Try letting yourself have one day a week with absolutely no time in front of a screen (tv, computer, iPad, phone, etc). Then see how you feel the next day. I promise you, it’s refreshing. If nothing else, start with your computer.
Remember, if it’s good enough for your kids, it’s good enough for you!
When your working; work.
Those times when we allow ourselves to check our FB page or Twitter accounts feel good and refreshing, but they really keep us from working. They distract us. How many times have you visited YouTube to check out a suggested video only to “escape” 30 minutes later? That 5 minute distraction just cost you 25 minutes of productivity (time away from your kids, garden, vacation).
When your working on a project, turn off your email and internet browser. If you have to work online, then make sure only one screen is on at a time. Force yourself to only run what you are actively working on.
You might consider a program like Anti-Social which turns off sites that you specify for an amount of time that you tell it. The only way around is a complete reboot of the computer. Turn it on for 90 minutes, get your task done, and then check out your Facebook status.
Remember, by giving yourself space to unconsciously turn over a concept or question in your mind you actually make a better decision. The tough part is allowing yourself the time and opportunity to let it happen.
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