How to Survive Information Overload as a Writer
By: Catherine Mcnally
Tags: Entrepreneurship, Organization, Productivity, Self Improvement, Writing Tips

It’s fun to discover new ideas, opinions, and methods . . . until it’s not.

If you tend to be over-anxious like me, it’s pretty easy to get caught up in information overload. And even if you aren’t an anxious type, it’s still easy to get bowled over by a wave of information.

You collect quotes, articles, podcasts, and videos here and there. You add them to your list of things to read later.

But soon your lists are overrun, your browser is stuffed with random bookmarks, and your inbox is flooded with emails. And you don’t read any of it. Well, that was a waste of time, right?

Well, maybe not. You can make things easier for yourself with just a bit of organization.

Sure, you may still wade too far into the ocean of info from time to time, but for the most part you can stay afloat. These tricks and tools for organizing your information intake will be your water wings in a sea of content.

1. Preplan your daily goals.

Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

Figure out what kind of information you need to digest during the day by matching it up to today’s goals.

Do you want to learn new things? It’s time to dig into online courses, how-to guides, and step-by-step videos.

Are you interested in keeping up on current events or industry trends? Tune into podcasts, check out industry thought leaders’ blogs and newsletters, and subscribe to daily or weekly news updates.

Are you looking for inspiration? Check in with your favorite authors, artists, and thought leaders to see what they’ve been up to.

And in case you’re looking for new wells of inspiration, here are some of my favorite thought leaders and blogs: Ann Handley, Jay Baer, Christopher S. Penn, Neil Patel, Ryan Robinson, Brain Pickings, Copyblogger, The Simple Dollar, and Buffer.

2. Carve out time for learning.

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One thing I noticed is that if I don’t block off time for creativity and learning on my calendar, it usually doesn’t happen.

Sometimes that’s because I get distracted.

Sometimes I can’t stop gathering information and never settle down to consumer it.

Other times it’s because others need to connect with me and schedule meetings during those times.

But if we block off 30 minutes or an hour on our calendar, we’re more likely to achieve our goal of consuming information. That’s because we now have a certain amount of time to read and engage, plus our time is safeguarded from (most) interruptions.

If you feel guilty for blocking out time on your calendar for personal learning, don’t.

It’s important to keep yourself up to date, and learning is a lifelong mission. If others can’t understand that, they’re not interested in your success as an individual. Building expertise in your field takes dedication to learning, and you need time to accomplish that.

3. Minimize distractions.

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Speaking of distractions . . . I say this as I answer a text from my husband. Hey now, I never swore I was good at this!

But seriously, distractions are a creativity and learning killer. The thing is, life happens. You get an urgent text, or your co-worker skips over and wants to chat. Your manager introduces you to a visiting VIP.

You can help yourself out with a few steps to get rid of most distractions. Here are some of my faves:

Find a quiet spot to sit—not at your desk! Give the pomodoro method a try. Pomodoro helps you focus on one task for a certain number of minutes, then gives you a five-minute break to relax and refresh. Put on headphones and listen to music. Nothing signals “Do not disturb” better than headphones, and music can help you concentrate. (My coworkers and I love “24/7 lofi hip hop radio” on YouTube. Meditate. A 2012 study found that meditators had better focus than non-meditators. If you want to try some free guided meditations, I like Michael Sealey’s “Guided Meditation for Mornings” and “Hypnosis for Improving Subsconscious Mind Power.” Go for a walk. Nothing clears my head and gives me more clarity than walking outside. Taking a stroll is also my number one way to get past writer’s block.

4. Filter incoming information.

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If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you might remember the scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone where the Dursley’s house is invaded by a massive tornado of Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry invitations. The enchanted letters smash through the mail opening in the front door and swarm through the house.

That’s how overwhelming information overload can feel.

You can help yourself out by filtering all the information that comes in. That doesn’t mean trashing things you might find valuable. Instead, you can automatically categorize every tidbit of info that comes your way. Here’s how:

Set up email rules so any new emails end up in special folders. I like to label mine by category so I can check out emails that match up with my daily learning goal. Need a guide? This YouTube video shows you how. Save articles to apps like Pocket and Evernote. I like Pocket myself, but note-taking apps like Evernote and Microsoft OneNote let you add your thoughts and reactions when you get around to reading your saved stories. Follow curated communities. The best thing about curated communities is that you know right away the kind of content you’ll find there. Medium’s publications are a perfect example of this. Modus features stories on design and accessibility. OneZero is focused on technology and science. The Writing Cooperative is, surprise surprise, all about writing. Create an organizational filing system so you can easily find saved articles later. Use tags, folders, and filenames to clearly indicate the type of learning goal your saved story matches. Another way to organize your “read later” list is by author or publication. I also like to number mine in order of importance as they relate to my goals. Keep an archive. Just like you should organize stories you haven’t read yet, you should also keep anything you’ve already read on file too. An archive lets you access information later. Like when you have one of those “I heard this interesting quote, but I can’t remember where. Let me find it!” moments. Delete unwanted articles. Keep your information garden healthy by weeding out articles that turned out to be duds or were duplicates. Don’t let them clutter up the true gems you found helpful or interesting.

5. Avoid negative content.

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Yup, you heard me right.

The thing is, negative content is just an all-around bummer. It increases distraction, anxiety, and stress. And, quite frankly, negativity isn’t constructive.

The amount of value in negative content is minuscule compared to the value found in positive content. I’d even argue there’s more value in cute cat videos than in negative content. Why?

Because at least cute cat videos leave you feeling hopeful and happy. Negative content leaves you feeling hurt, confused, and frustrated. Those emotions don’t help you focus, inspire you to learn, or boost your creativity.

There is one caveat though: I think it’s important to still read negative stories that showcase a journey and a solution. They’re not wholly negative, and the thing is, you can still learn from these types of stories.