The overwhelming amount of emails in your inbox along with news feeds, social media, and text messages can steal your focus, making you less productive and more stressed. Information overload can even affect your ability to make decisions and sleep well.
Instead of being at the mercy of a million notifications, aim to become an intelligent consumer of information, filtering out information that is distracting or irrelevant. Try these tips for managing information overload.
Start by taking stock of the interruptions. In your state of overwhelm, you may not even be aware of what’s diverting your attention. Is it Facebook notifications? Text pings from a friend? Once you know what’s competing for your focus, you can be strategic in limiting your media and information overconsumption.
Reduce incoming alerts. Adjust the settings on your phone, email accounts, and on social media sites to limit notifications. Choose to receive only the notifications that are most important to you, or opt to turn some of them off altogether.
Focus on problem-solving. It’s tempting to fall down the “rabbit hole,” searching the internet for endless snippets of information on a variety of topics. Try to limit your searches to finding the information you need to answer top priority concerns. Keep a notepad next to you to write down things you want to look into later, but aren’t crucial right now.
Designate certain times to check emails, messages, and so forth. Stick to a time limit, say a half-hour. Or break your “checking in” time to two or three shorter sessions during the day.
Stay focused on the task at hand. If you are writing a report, watching a webinar, or doing a household chore, put your phone away and focus on completing that task. Having your phone in your hand, even looking at something online “for just a second,” can break your concentration. Aim to get your task done first and tell yourself you can reward yourself with responding to your friend’s message after your task is done.
Unplug from screen time—and the news. While sometimes it may be helpful to watch funny animal videos to give you a lighthearted boost, don’t always rely on that–try some healthier ways to entertain yourself, such as going for a quick walk, spending time with a friend or loved one, or meditating. Your mind will be refreshed and your mood will be lifted.
While we all may be swimming in a sea of information these days, it’s possible to take control of what’s flowing your way, increasing your focus and improving your mental health.
