How to Deal With Information Overload

Email to a friend Permalink

Friday, October 17, 2014

Lea McLeod, GoLocalPDX Careers Expert

Information overload. Gah! It’s enough to put even the most stalwart multi-tasker into a cold sweat! And refrains from the overwhelmed resonate in workplaces across the land.

“I sit in meetings all day and feel like I’m not getting anything done.”

“There just isn’t enough time to get everything done.”

“I get hundreds of emails; how am I supposed to do my job?”

“My spouse is freaking out about how much time I spend at work.”

Those who struggle with managing their workloads and leaving work on time feel the pressure. The vast amount of information gushing at us in any moment of the workday is most certainly the issue.

And that’s just work-related information. When you add in the lure of social media, news feeds, online articles that beg attention, texts, personal emails, favorite blogs, funny cat videos on YouTube and and … well, it’s positively overwhelming!

But many people are getting one very important point wrong. They are confusing “information” with “important.” 

The fact is this: Not all work – not all information - carries the same value.

Yet often the sheer volume tricks us into treating all information equally. The next article is read, the next email is processed, and the next meeting is attended. All “incoming information” is assigned equal weight and equal importance.

But do we actually NEED to process all that information? Read all those emails? Attend all those meetings?  

No, we don’t. 

Worse, the inability to parse and differentiate information keeps the workday very long. It keeps employees from leaving work on time. Because everything stays on the table, and nothing (or very little) is traded off.

It’s not surprising, then, that nearly 70% of workers label themselves as dissatisfied with work. And “super-sized workload” is one of the main culprits.

While there are enormous benefits to the amount of information at our fingertips to access – more that at any time in human history – it can also create other unintended consequences in the workplace. Here’s how information overload may be affecting you.

1. It Increases Overwhelm 

Being unable to separate the wheat from the chaff on the information overload side adds to everyone’s perceived workload. Result? A constant feeling of overwhelm.

2. It Makes Us Less Efficient, And More Stressed

Tempted to multi-task because there’s too much coming at you? Reading emails in meetings, or having eight desktop files open simultaneously won’t cut it. 

Study after study has shown that completing multiple tasks at the same time always takes longer than doing one at a time, and compromises quality in the process. And, those who multi-task secrete more stress hormones than those who do not.

3. It Lowers Job Satisfaction.

Too much incoming information dampens the ability to cope with problem solving and decision-making. Self-doubt sets in. Possibly, confidence lessens. It’s tough to feel good – or satisfied – with the job being done. 

To combat frustration and overwhelm, ask these three questions.

Throughout the day, use these questions to test for focus, or overwhelm. 

1. Is this “important” or “information?”

Information in and of itself is not necessarily useful. If it doesn’t support the most critical priorities, put it aside.

2. Am I “clear” or “confused?”

Before tackling a task with the information at hand, validate what you’re trying to do, and how the information you have supports that mission. If you can’t make the correlation, take a step back and jettison the overflow.

3. Am I “creating” or “processing?”

Is the information coming in being used to accomplish something – like progress on the most critical priorities - or is it just mindless reading material or emails without a greater purpose in mind?

All this “information” has tricked many of us into tipping the scale of the clock precariously out of favor. More information does not equal “more stuff to do.” More information means the need to prioritize the important, and jettison the crap, is more important than ever. 

The challenge becomes not just using the information at hand, but pulling the dumpster up and knowing what needs to be disposed of so the most important mission gets our full attention. 

Lea McLeod, M.A. coaches professionals to get more done, be more confident and deal with workplace issues like challenging bosses and overwhelming workloads. Her career insights have been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Mashable, Yahoo, and Business Insider. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Follow her on Twitter. If you’re ready to take action, get started with her free 21 Days to Peace at Work e-series.

Banner Photo Credit: iStock 

Related Articles

• Three Things To Make Work Your Work Life Easier Before the Year’s End
• Stop Working So Late: How to Get Out The Door On Time
• How Talking About Being Busy Can Add to Stress
• Difficult Workplace Personalities and How to Deal With Them
• Get Off My Back! Five tips for Dealing With Micromanagers
• Who’s the Boss? Getting to Know Your Manager
• Jack of All Trades: The Advantage of Career Generalism

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink