Do you feel like you're on information overload? Is your brain so overflowing with information that you feel like it's going to bust open one of these days? I wonder if there's a sweet spot somewhere between information overload, boredom and a Zen-like feeling. Do you think so?
We are living in the information age, no doubt, and too much information makes it difficult to make decisions, having a computer with an Internet connection at your fingertips only multiplies the problem. If you can call it a problem. There is a natural urge, a human instinct, to search for new information, so we can survive another day. Instead of searching for our next meal however, we find ourselves searching for more and more information, we find and read the next email or follow a newsbite or two, or three; we become like cyber-butterflies and down the rabbit hole we go. Several hours later, we can't figure out where the time went! 24 hours later we can't remember half of what we discovered the day before!
Email has turned us into 'lab rats' reports Nick Collins in a recent Telegraph article, desperately craving activity and interaction, we learn how the reward system works, and we make the rounds just like a rat circling its cage looking for food. It's that survival instinct. Eric Schmidt, chief executive of Google, believes that all this instant information is affecting our deep thinking process, creating 'thin and scattered' thinking, making learning and retention more difficult.
There are billions of pages and websites on the Internet and we cannot get through even 1% of them, believe me, I've tried! So maybe we should stop trying so hard.
Human attention is a scarce commodity, you need to know that you are the only one who can mange this resource. You must guard your attention at all times, or you may lose your ability to do so. The advertiser is looking for your attention and they are very good at getting it. Advertisers know what you're looking for and they give it to you.
From the Wikipedia section on 'Attention Economy' - here's what the advertiser gives you:
- Immediacy - priority access, immediate delivery
- Personalization - tailored just for you
- Interpretation - support and guidance
- Authenticity - how can you be sure it is the real thing?
- Accessibility - wherever, whenever
- Embodiment - books, live music
- Patronage - "paying simply because it feels good"
- Findability - "When there are millions of books, millions of songs, millions of films, millions of applications, millions of everything requesting our attention — and most of it free — being found is valuable."
We like all this personal attention, so we buy whatever they're selling, it makes us feel good. We are bombarded with these messages wherever we turn: Computers, Television, Billboards, Shopping Malls, shops everywhere, restaurants, grocery stores with a million items on their shelves....and on and on. We do not need, and we cannot have it all.
There's a new term out there now called 'social interaction overload'. That's when you spend too much time on Facebook, forums, groups and other online social connections. A little is fun, a lot is not good.
One approach to solving the problem of information or interaction overload is to regulate it. I don't care to much for that idea, because there's too much information to regulate! Sounds more like a way for somebody to make money rather than a solution. Others feel that we have a filtering problem, we let too much in to begin with; when we should be using our natural filters to keep useless information out.
Another approach is what I like to call the Zen approach. This requires a little discipline, but it all boils down to making wise choices. We choose what goes in and what goes out. You've heard it said 'our thoughts create our world'? It's true.
We tend to operate within varying degrees of the following mental states: Flow, control, relaxation, boredom, apathy, worry, anxiety, and stress. The trick is to remain in control of the flow of relaxation. Zen. LOL We require stimulation. We have created a world that is full of stimulation. Autistic children who are overstimulated will sometimes go off in a corner to be alone, away from people and stimulation; this is called 'stimming'. We are becoming over-stimulated and are in need of a time-out so we can 'stim down'.
When we are challenged, we are appropriately stimulated. If however, the challenge exceeds our skill or knowledge base, we become stressed and anxious. On the other end, if our skill exceeds the challenge, we feel a sense of control; which can turn into boredom as the challenge becomes less and less challenging. So we seek another challenge and more stimulation.
In my mind, the way to reduce the information overload and guard our human attention, is to put yourself in a situation where there are fewer choices, or opportunites, for overload. Begin by making incremental changes in your daily habits:
- Set a timer for the amount of time you'll spend on a particular task, such as email, research, social interaction, or other Internet related activities.
- Make a list of what needs to be done and determine, choose, to remain focused on that list. Remember to put fun things on the list too - this is the procrastinator's problem - they never schedule time for fun!
- Set a timer for each item on the list and put all your effort into the task at hand.
- Take time to relax and daydream (deep thinking)... control the flow of relaxtion. Spend time in prayer and meditation - get away from it all! Ahhh....Zen.
- Reward yourself at the completion of each 'task'. Maybe get up and walk around, or go for a walk outside. Enjoy some healthy refreshments.
- Create filters to keep out the distractions. Turn stuff off, move stuff that's distracting.
- Create your own strategy, you know you best! Think about what you want to accomplish, and then create a plan that works for you!
This is a long post, lots of information to read. I hope this doesn't put you on information overload. This is not a productivity article, it's a being human quest for rest! The bottom line is that it's really all about choices. You know what you really want, you just have to be dilligent and make wise choices.
May you remain in control of the flow of relaxation and may your life be joyful. Ahhh....Zen.
