How to Deal with Information Overload: Part I

Are you drowning in information? After searching in Google are you amazed that there are 19,345,000 sites about your topic? There is more information online than any one person can ever consume, and it’s only going to get worse. How do you get the information you need without feeling overwhelmed or paralyzed?

Here are my 4 tips.

Tip #1: Only consume relevant information
This sounds obvious but how often do we surf away from the information we were seeking, to read unrelated sites?

If you’re working on a problem. For example, you want to insert images into an Amazon module. Only read information that is relevant to the problem at hand. It is very easy to be distracted by other things such as… the commission we make on Amazon sales. Although they are related and are both interesting, the latter will not help you solve your original problem.

When researching a lens I often find myself reading one of the web links, and clicking through to another and reading, then clicking through to another, and so on. After several hours of this I often have nothing to show for my time. I end up consuming content instead of creating it. Although there is nothing wrong with that, education and entertainment play an important role, but does it relate to your purpose?

Tip #2: Give yourself a deadline
There are a gazillion solutions to every problem. Unfortunately, you don’t have time to evaluate each one. I used to think I always needed the best solution. This is obviously impossible. You (and I) need to find the best solution we can within our time constraints. So give yourself 30 minutes to figure out how to insert an image into your Amazon module. At the end of the 30 minutes, use the best solution you have found. Then move onto your next problem.

Note: I am not saying to plan your day by breaking it into 30 minute intervals and then religiously following your Franklin-Covey planner. (Shudder) I’m simply saying that if you have a problem, don’t tell yourself: “I’m going to work on this until we have a perfect solution.” Life is too short. Tell yourself: “I’m going to work on this for 60 minutes and use the best available solution.”

Tip #3: Don’t buy any eBooks
Don’t buy any eBooks unless it has the exact information you need to solve the problem you’re working on right now. If it solves your problem it’s worth the cost. If it doesn’t, then it’s more information you don’t need… right now. It is true you might need it in the future. Wait and buy it then. You might even find the information for free somewhere.

Tip #4: Get help at SquidU
SquidU is a great place to get all of your questions answered. Don’t worry about research, just ask an expert.

I hope these help.  Later this week I’ll be posting tips to help your readers deal with information overload.

Stay Tuned