Are You Suffering From Information Overload?

What is clear about today’s world is that there is no shortage of information; if anything, there is far too much. The trouble is that while the amount of information that is available has rapidly increased over the years, our brains haven’t really changed.

Therefore, in the same way that an appliance will end up being maxed out if too much energy is going into it, our brains can also suffer the same fate when too much information is  being sent to them. However, what makes it harder to solve this challenge is that our brains like novelty and are motivated to seek it out.  
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Another Factor

Not only this, our brains can end up getting hooked on using different devices, making it even harder for us to pull ourselves away from all this information. This then creates a scenario that is very similar to staying in an abusive relationship, inasmuch as it is clear that it is not healthy but that is not enough for it to end.

Naturally, some of the information that we take in will be valuable, while there will be a lot of information that isn’t. Limiting the amount of information that we are exposed to is then going to be vital when it comes to managing our stress levels.

The Next Best Thing

If you have noticed that being exposed to so much information is not doing your wellbeing any favours, what you can do to feel more settled might be different to someone else. The reason for this is that if you do a lot of work on a device, you will most likely need to spend a fair amount of time online.  

Even so, there will be things that you can do online to limit the amount of information that you are exposed to. For example, during the moments when you need to go online to do important tasks, you could make sure that you don’t use any social media sites.

In The Driver’s Seat

This will put less pressure on your brain and give you more energy to focus on what truly matters. Another thing you can do, that’s if you have the inclination to send long messages and emails, is to cut down on the amount you write each time.

When it comes to your free time, you could also decide to spend less time online or you could limit the amount of time you spend on social media. You will limit the amount of information you are exposed to by doing this, which will allow your brain to function better.

A Conscious Choice

By limiting the amount of information you are exposed to, you will have more energy to focus on the information that will actually benefit your life. Undoubtedly, there is a lot of information out there that will just distract you from what matters and fill your mind will things that will make it harder for you to live a fulfilling life.

It’s a bit like how it is important to be discerning when it comes to what food we put in our mouth and how often we put it in our mouth. If we eat the wrong food and eat too often, it won’t do us any favours.

Final Thoughts

Allowing our mind to be distracted by an endless flow of information is a great way to end up being burnt out. Yet, by gaining control of the amount and the type of information that we consume, our mental and emotional health will benefit and, as an extension of that, so will our life. 

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Oliver JR Cooper
http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk