Don’t Strain Your Brain with Information Overload

As technology simplifies our daily lives and allows us to move at an ever increasing pace, the amount of information available from a wide array of sources continues to rise. Yet, the human brain, our memory, can only absorb so much information and we can only press ourselves to do so many tasks within any given day. What ultimately happens as we push ourselves harder and harder is what many call "information overload."

Information overload refers to the amount of excessive information that is being provided to us resulting in our inability to process and absorb the details - important or otherwise - necessary to function at a competent level. Think of it as the paralysis of analysis. You virtually become unable to move forward because you're stuck in the quagmire of thought.

If you have ever found yourself floundering in wonder or unable to make a decision because there were too many choices, you may be straining your brain with information overload. To help you get beyond this calamity, here are some steps you can take to unburden your brain.

Train Yourself to Focus

If you find yourself feeling as if your thoughts and actions are scattered and unfocused, it's time to regroup. Organize your time, energy and space into segments.

That means you need to literally organize your daily schedule in a way that will help you to manage when you receive and act on information. Obviously, your plan cannot be so rigid as to not allow for unexpected emergencies or interruptions, but you can carve out niches of time for doing certain tasks and keep a to-do list that designates which tasks must be completed before the end of the day. If you focus on completing the critical tasks and work your way down to the less critical tasks, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, too.

To show how obsessed most Americans are with regard to sending and receiving information, a recent study by Seattle-based RescueTime concluded that a typical office worker accesses their e-mail program more than 50 times a day and uses instant messaging 77 times a day. These constant interruptions can leave you feeling frazzled.

Instead, cut down on information overload by limiting the amount of information you receive each day. That means don't surf the Internet, hang out at Facebook, IM your friends or read your email every few minutes. Avoid responding immediately to every IM or email that you receive. Turn off your Blackberry and your cell phone as you focus on completing projects. Close your door (if you have an office) or put out a "do not disturb" sign on your cubicle. Set aside blocks of time for your activities, or better yet, reduce your communication channels to only one or two. It will be easier to handle the distractions.

Give Yourself a Break

As difficult as it might be to admit, information overload is self-induced. You have total control over how much information you receive and how you respond to it. You have the right to say "no." Make the choice to reduce the inflow by taking a break.

Spend your lunch time catching up on the latest with co-workers and friends. First, it gives you the necessary down time away from the information overload at your desk. Though beware: talking with others can contribute to your angst. Second, if you spend time with your colleagues during your break, you are less likely to get interrupted by them during your work time. This will help you focus.

If during the course of your day you find yourself going off track, ask yourself why you are doing something. If it has a purpose, fine. If not, stop what you are doing and refocus. Train yourself to take action and get back on track. Too many ideas and thoughts crossing your mind? Write them down so that you can take action at another, more appropriate time. That will help you release the thought and move on.

What is important is to understand how you control the information you receive. Learn to let go and learn to say "no." Don't strain your brain with information overload.