Back to days I-VI of Block 2 'Information Overload'

2. Read the article below and write an essay on the topic "Being a modern person means it is impossible to cope with information overload you are constantly exposed to. To what extent  do you agree or disagree?" Write at least 250 words. Try to write the essay in 40 minutes.

10 Steps To Conquering Information Overload

Laura Shin

Senior Contributor

I write and podcast about crypto/blockchain technology.

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Nov 14, 2014,08:00am EST

Updated Jun 29, 2021, 04:55am EDT

We've all heard the term "information overload," often associated with tweets, texts, emails, and endless online distractions. However, the cognitive flood can be much simpler, says Daniel Levitin, a McGill University psychology professor and author of The Organized Mind.

In 1976, grocery stores had 9,000 products, compared to 40,000 now. Yet, most people only need about 150 items, forcing us to ignore thousands of options. Similarly, we’ve created more information in the last decade than in all of human history before it, overwhelming a brain designed to focus on only three or four things at once. Excess information leads to poor judgment and reduced focus, necessitating conscious strategies to manage it.

Tips for Overcoming Information Overload:

  1. Brain Dump: Write down everything on your mind to clear mental clutter. Categorize tasks into what to do today, delegate, defer, or drop. Break down vague goals into actionable steps.

  2. Two-Minute Rule: Dedicate daily time to completing quick tasks like emails and phone calls.

  3. Task Clumping: Group similar tasks to stay focused and save mental energy.

  4. Avoid Multitasking: Switching tasks depletes your brain’s energy, impairing focus and memory. Instead, work on one task at a time for better efficiency.

  5. Limit Email Distractions: Check emails at set times and disable notifications to avoid constant interruptions.

  6. “Eat the Frog” in the Morning: Tackle the hardest or most important task first thing when energy and focus are at their peak.

  7. Time-Worth Decisions: Spend time on tasks proportionate to their importance. For example, store old bills in a box instead of organizing them extensively.

  8. Take Breaks: Short breaks every couple of hours improve productivity and creativity by resetting the brain.

  9. Daydream: Let your mind wander occasionally to foster creativity and refresh cognitive resources.

  10. Delegate Authority: Empower others to make decisions, reducing the manager's information load and enhancing team efficiency. For example, General Stanley McChrystal shared how soldiers in Iraq would call him at night, saying, “‘We’ve been watching this building and we think it might have some munitions in it. We’d like your permission to bomb it.’” He would reply, “‘There’s nothing you can tell me on the phone at 2am in five minutes that’s going to make me more expert than you already are. If you think we should bomb it, you should bomb it.’”

By following these strategies, we can combat the cognitive overload of modern life and achieve greater productivity and focus.

You can use the second of the following templates [click to open/close the templates]

Day VII.

1. Do the tasks here.  

2. Prepare a speech on the problem of information overload and ways to fight it. Mention sources of extra information, negative effect of it on our brain and work.