I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. It’s better to be rich.
Gertrude Stein
Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense.
Information overload is a common thing today, as technology advances – you tend to be bombarded with information coming from various sources. As you wake up in the morning and you turn on the television, computer, radio, open a magazine or newspaper so many messages and channels compete for your attention… Just take a look at ” What happens on the Internet every 60 seconds”:
Information overload leads to multitasking which at the end kills productivity. Some neuroscientists believed that our brains weren’t designed to handle the amount of information they’re currently processing.
Our brains’ attention levels are finite. When our brain is overloaded with information it can trigger “fight or flight” reaction. This overload makes the brain feel threatened, so it shuts down higher brain regions that deal with empathy. Instead of focusing on a task, the brain now wants to always switch to a new thing due to constant flow of new information it receives through multitasking. It is likely a result of brain’s desire to react to immediate opportunities and threats. Consequently every time you switch to a new task you brain receives squirt of dopamine.
What can Help?
- Intentionally focus on tasks
- Limit the number of times you check your email
- Designate a time to check your social networks and news sites
- Complete similar tasks together
- Wait several hours and send messages in batches
- Take a break from Internet
