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April 19 2008
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Dealing with Information Overload

information overloadInformation is now coming at you from all angles: e-mail, phone, regular mail, cell phone, pager, fax machine, the Internet, you name it. If you’re an information-junkie like me, then this can be a good thing … but only if you know how to manage it.

If you’re not careful, information overload, which is an inevitable byproduct of the digital age that we live in, can lead to unnecessary stress, an irritable mood, and a general feeling that you can never quite keep up.

Fortunately, Lifehack shared some excellent tips to help you take control of the constant influx of data.

1. Email: Ruthlessly eliminate all the non-relevant stuff that sits in your inbox. Be strict with the time you devote to your email.

2. TV: Although you probably watch TV to relax, it is actually counterproductive.

3. Mobile Phones: You can turn them off (and you probably should for the sake of your health).

4. Meditate: Even if it is just for 5 minutes, meditation can stop that ever-constant chatter in your head.  

5. RSS Feeds: Clean out your RSS feeds at least once a month, and get rid of those that you don’t really like.

For those of you who want to be exceptionally productive at dealing with the information coming into your life, David Allen’s Getting Things Done is filled with some of the best advice out there.

Before I got this book years ago, I actually thought I had a pretty good handle on getting things done in my life. But I realized I had a lot of room for improvement, and I would guess that you do too.

Ultimately, the more you learn about how to sort through information, weeding out what’s really important to your life, and ignoring or skimming over the rest, the happier, and more at peace, you’ll be.
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Community Comments ( 17 )
Comment on this Article
  
  
Dekalb
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on March 31, 2008 ]
12 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I just want to know what to do when the "Beer Barrel Polka" get's stuck in my head.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
New to Natural
[ Joined on 11/07 ]  [ Posted on April 1, 2008]
7 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Do the polka! 
Mercola
  
Pat Ormsby
[ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on April 19, 2008]
       
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

Thank your favorite diety that it is just the Beer Barrel Polka and not one of those awful advertisements!

Mercola
  
belegost
[ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on April 19, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

do the hokey polkey...hehehe

  
  
Bobby_Lee
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on April 1, 2008 ]
7 Points        
   
 
Novice User
As an information overload junkie, I find it amusing that I already subscribe to three out of four.  The only one I stay relatively on top of is email. Partly my business, but partly my interest.  I can't even remember th last TV show I watched in my own home.  Occasional viewing while visiting is unavoidable. but my children are being taught to READ. And I mean printed material. I have been a reader since first grade and never looked back to see if should stop.

Lee
 [ Reply ]
  
  
qualitygeek
[ Joined on 10/07 ] [ Posted on April 1, 2008 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Meditate: Even if it is just for 5 minutes, meditation can stop that ever constant chatter in your head.

One of the radio programs today discussed being still & waiting on the Lord and used a study of emotional intelligence & the ability to wait  as an illustration - how this ability to wait could be used as a stronger predictor of the future success level than IQ - all because a 4 year old could wait for the 2nd marshmallow.

Walter Michel of Stanford created a test to determine how well a group of 4 year olds could control impulses and delay gratification. Each child one at a time went into a room with a one-way mirror. The child was  shown a marshmallow. The experimenter told the child he had to leave and that they could have the marshmallow right then, but if they waited for the experimenter to return from his errand, the child could have two marshmallows. A single marshmallow was left on a table in front of the child. Some children grabbed the marshmallow within seconds of the experimenter's departure from the room. Others waited up to twenty minutes for the experimenter's return. In a follow-up study (Shoda, Mischel, & Peake, 1990), the same children were tested at 18 years of age and comparisons were made between the third of the children who grabbed the marshmallow (the "impulsive") and the third who delayed gratification in order to receive the enhanced reward ("impulse controlled"). The children who were most impulsive at four years old scored an average of 524 verbal and 528 math. The children who waited patiently scored 610 verbal and 652 math.

google the STANFORD MARSHMALLOW STUDY for more info.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
ZPE
[ Joined on 02/08 ] [ Posted on April 1, 2008 ]
6 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I remember reading comments written quiet a few years ago, saying that at the turn of the century (2000/2001) we will have so many labor saving devices, automated factories and so much wealth and as a result we will have so much extra leisure time!

ha ha ha ha ha!
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
charmus
[ Joined on 02/08 ]  [ Posted on April 20, 2008]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Yes Jonny, you are right, our civilization is so behind. The world governments want to maintain their power and status quo, that's why they waste our time with meaningless information. Not to mention the time waste the governments are responsible, because of bureaucracy. The best thing is turn off as much as you can. Don't even start RSS. Try to simplify your life. Don't buy anything unless it's necessary for survival, health or your hobby or job. Don't buy/watch/read junk. Don't buy stuff just cuz it's on sale! We need to start uncluttering our lives. Thanks Dr Mercola for this article.

  
  
SusanGee
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on April 19, 2008 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Novice User

This is a fairly ridiculous article considering that everyday we are deluged with Mercola advisories about products and situations that are going to kill us.  And if that isn't enough, you really would have to tune out to completely.  Never watch another news program or read the newspaper.  Overload?  The only other choice you have is sheer ignorance.

 [ Reply ]
  
  
themikeb
[ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on April 1, 2008 ]
3 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
To me  Tv is a Weapon of Mass Deceptions.
Even the seemingly begin shows are full of affirmations of an agenda, to dumb down  the watchers.
I take 2 red pill  daily to stay out of that matrix..
(Two Krill oil pills) I still get news I need.. withoout the propaganda

 Heard mentioned this on a radio show:
Blond haired blue eyed al quaeda recruits are everywhere according to FOX.....
they are conditioning  us to rat out each other over anything...fear mongers.May they rot in hell..Nazi tactics, that is all that is...brainwash the sheeple some more
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
lively*
[ Joined on 12/06 ]  [ Posted on April 19, 2008]
       
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola

themikeb,

Agreed. TV FAKERY will improve steadily so we need to look at earlier examples.

Example:

Clairvoyant BBC (check the links to see BBC's response--not even a lame excuse there):

www.bloglines.com/.../2007_2_28

Another:

http://blip.tv/file/473852/

And:

Jeff calls Photo Artist Val McClatchey

www.youtube.com/watch

Jeff calls Photo Artist Val McClatchey Part 2/2

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

More?

BANNED! Shocking admission confirms Ozzy was right!

www.youtube.com/watch

FAKE PLANE actor Gary Welz reveals more secrets

www.youtube.com/watch

9/11 Actor: Voiceprint Technology Matches Gary Welz

www.youtube.com/watch

  
  
xyzsch
[ Joined on 10/06 ] [ Posted on April 20, 2008 ]
1 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User

I googled RSS feeds because this article mentions them, and I didn't know what they were. After reading a Wikiipedia description, I decided they were a lot of bother, and I didn't want to start.

That's my feeling about most technology, including TV and cell phones. I use the internet, because I teach online, as a convenience for many of my students. And it is a good research tool, if you are selective. But I am looking forward to cycling this summer for three weeks. No cell phones, no internet, no TVs, no junk mail (online or through US Postal Service), and no bothering with a house full of stuff, much of which seems superfluous.

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Fran_Fleming
[ Joined on 10/06 ]  [ Posted on April 21, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I did the same thing you did concerning RSS feeds.  I wonder if it has to do with subscribing to other web sites?  I am NOT tech savvy and proud of it!  I really would get rid of my cell phone if I did not have a child I had to keep tabs on.  I guess a land line should suffice, but I would worry too much being out and about.

  
  
Dr Rik
[ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on April 19, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Savvy User

the solution to information overload is to record TV shows?

 [ Reply ]
  
  
mmc88121
[ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on March 31, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Moderator User
I had forgotten you could record TV shows,  and unless you are preparing for a presentation do you need to back up your email,  most things on the internet are already backed up somewhere else.

Mary
 [ Reply ]
  
  
Arizona
[ Joined on 06/07 ] [ Posted on March 31, 2008 ]
       
   
 
Savvy User
While recovering from health issues, I have watched way too many tv programs. I do find myself turning the TV off now. I know exactly what they are talking about in the article and can relate:)
 [ Reply ]

 
Truste
 
Mercola