We live in a world of information overload says May Busch* but how much is really worth the effort of our attention?.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of information and input you’re receiving?
Maybe it’s from a feedback session at year-end — or from attending a conference.
Or it could be coming out of a meeting or an offsite where there are so many to-do items that it’s difficult to figure out what to tackle first.
It’s highly likely not all the items are worth doing, but it feels like you’re the only one who can do them.
That’s how I used to feel.
If this happens to you, too, I want to share some steps that work for me and maybe for you.
Take a Step Back:
The first thing I like to do is take a step back and just let things bubble up.
I carve out a 10-to-15-minute time slot to just think, maybe while walking my dog or just laying on my nap couch.
I take this time to let my mind wander and figure out what really stood out for me, and I do this without looking at anything else, then I jot down those things.
Tap into Your Intellect:
The second step I like to take is to go through and review all my notes from the information I’ve been taking in.
In contrast to step one where instinct and intuition are your guide, step two is about tapping into your intellect.
I look for all the things that really jump out as being important — key themes and ideas as well as actionable nuggets.
This process can take me a bit longer because I take a lot of notes, but I highly recommend the note-taking method.
An important distinction here is that while the first step is about high-level impressions, the second step is a more rigorous and intellectual look at what’s important.
Then I write down what’s important from step two.
It’s especially helpful to overlay this on top of that first list because then you have both your heart and your head sorting through the information.
Share What You’ve Learned:
The third thing I like to do is tell somebody else about my takeaways from the event or session.
I usually share this with my husband and he only has an attention span for five to 10 minutes, so this step has to be brief.
When I tell him about what I’ve learned, that helps me because when you say something out loud to somebody else, it then gives it more life.
That also gives me a chance to see how what I’ve said resonates.
When you say your ideas out loud, does it sound like you’re saying your words with conviction, with positive energy, with some passion behind them?
That gives you some clues as to how important you feel that thing is.
As a bonus, when you’re sharing your takeaways with someone else, if it’s someone you trust, like a mentor, they might also be able to give you some guidance and feedback.
Distil It Down:
The fourth step is to take your findings from steps one to three and distil them down to just two to three actionable items.
The reality is, we can’t work on everything at the same time and do it all excellently.
I’ve tried and it doesn’t work.
Block time on your calendar to then go and execute on those two to three you’ve chosen.
This is a crucial step because when you set aside specific time slots, you’re more likely to get the action item done.
Write Down Your Action Steps:
The fifth and final step is, for those two or three actionable items you’ve chosen, to take an index card and write down the name of the project or action item at the top, and your intention right below.
Sometimes my intention is just to “get to done.”
Other times, if I’m teaching something, it might be “to create an awesome, amazing experience for somebody else”.
Then, write down the action steps right below your intention.
Break them down into tiny little steps so that each one of them is easy to implement, like “gather files, review previous document, draft new conclusion section, draft cover email to Martha, attach draft and send”.
Then comes my favourite part: Cheerfully checking off each highly doable action step as you complete it.
Having these mini wins provides that positive boost to keep me going on to the next step.
Whether it’s at work or at home, there’s always the potential to get into a state of information overwhelm.
Frankly, these days it feels like the norm to have “too much information” thrown at us.
That’s why it’s essential to have a strategy for dealing with it — one that keeps us sane, productive and enjoying life.
What do you do when you’re overwhelmed by information? What actions do you take, or do you get stuck?
* May Busch helps leaders and their organisations achieve their full potential. She works with smart entrepreneurs and top managements to build their businesses and can be contacted at [email protected].
This article first appeared on May’s blogsite
