The Information Overload Paradox
The idea of 'Information Overload' was popularized by Bertram Myron Gross (a social scientist) in his 1964 book, The Managing of Organizations.
The Managing of Organizations
It claims we're presented with so much new info per day that we're overwhelmed. We become anxious, irrational, and fatigued …
And think about it. You're constantly bombarded by:
• The news
• New posts on social media
• Advertisements everywhere
It's impossible to filter out the noise.
Alex Hormozi says "Attention is the new oil". And everyone's mining yours …
This trend is showing no sign of stopping.
In 2014, 90% of the data that existed in the world had been created in the past two years.
You might think this is a good thing - sounds like there's unlimited education available, right?
Here's why it's such a problem:
Overwhelm and Decision Fatigue
There's so much data available that we can't properly sift through it and prioritize.
We just become more confused (rather than more knowledgeable) and make worse decisions as a result. It's the paradox of choice.
Wasted Time and Energy Information overload destroys your productivity. Sifting through:
• Emails
• Notifications
• Irrelevant content
Eats into your valuable work and rest time. It's nothing but distraction disguised as new knowledge.
Multitasking and Reduced Focus You can be contacted so many different ways - it's like multiple tentacles you can't shake off.
And the more inputs, the less focus you can sustain.
With that being said, here's how to combat it:
Digital Detox
Every so often, spend a weekend:
• In nature
• Without technology
• Writing down ideas on pen and paper
Let the only inputs be your senses and reap the fruits of creative boredom.
Deep Work A big reason information overload destroys productivity:
Context switching.
Each time you switch how your attention is used, different parts of the brain activate.
It takes ~23 minutes to regain full focus. Ruthlessly guard no-input deep work time daily.
Evaluate your Information Diet If the majority of your information comes from:
• TikTok
• Short articles
Be wary that incentives are sometimes skewed to promote withholding the full truth/being dishonest. Your attention is their currency - spend it wisely.
Mindfulness and Meditation Information overload will take your emotions on a daily rollercoaster:
• Fear
• Anger
• Controversy
All need to be combated with intentionality. Start with 5 minutes of observing your breath.
And steal back your emotional stability.