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Information Overload is the Devil

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Sarah Houghton
Sarah Houghton

The document discusses information overload and provides tips for dealing with it. It defines information overload as generating information faster than we can manage it. The top 5 barriers to dealing with it are lack of time, lack lack of interest, lack of encouragement, not knowing where to start, and frustration. It then provides 10 tips in areas like general organization, filtering input, managing different technologies, and time management to help address information overload.

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Information Overload is the Devil Sarah Houghton-Jan Digital Futures Manager for the San Jose Public Library author of LibrarianInBlack.net This presentation will be at LibrarianInBlack.net
What does “Information Overload” mean to you?
 
 
 
 
 
“ We have become far more proficient in generating information than we are in managing it, and we have also built technology that easily allows us to create new information without human intervention.” ~Jonathan B. Spira
“ In an online world of small pieces loosely joined, librarians are among the most well qualified and highly motivated joiners of those pieces.” ~ John Udell – “Remixing the Library”
Top 5 Barriers to Dealing with Information Overload 1) Lack of time (or perceived lack)‏ 2) Lack of interest or motivation 3) Not encouraged/threatened by management 4) Not knowing where to start 5) Frustration with past attempts
 
10 Tips for Dealing with Information Overload
#1: General Organizational Techniques
Inventory your inputs Inventory your devices Think before sending/subscribing Schedule yourself (including unscheduled work and tasks)‏ Use downtime Stay neat Keep a master waiting list
#2: Filter Your Input
Weed, weed, and weed again Teach others communication etiquette (and stick to it)‏ Schedule unplugged times Unplug at will
#3: RSS & Twitter Overload Techniques
Limit your feeds and following Use lists to organize feeds & Twitter friends Use RSS when applicable Use RSS to send you reminders
#4: Interruptive Technology Overload Techniques
Phones, text messaging, IM, Twitter Use these technologies when appropriate Check when you want to Don't interrupt yourself Use your status message Lobby for IM or Twitter at work
#5: Phone Overload Techniques
Use the phone when appropriate Turn it off Keep your number private Let it ring Work = work, home=home
#6: Email Overload Techniques
Stop “Doing Email” Start scheduling email scanning time Use email when appropriate Deal with email by subject Keep your inbox nearly empty Filter your messages Limit listservs Follow good email etiquette Delete and archive Work=work, home=home
#7: Print Media Overload Techniques
Just because you can touch it, doesn't mean you should keep it Cancel, cancel, cancel (CatalogChoice.org)‏ Weed what you do have
#8: Multimedia Overload Techniques
Choose entertainment thoughtfully Limit television viewing Schedule entertainment time Use your commute to your benefit
#9: Social Networking Overload Techniques
Schedule time on your networks Pick a primary network and point other sites toward it Limit your “in-network IM”
#10: Time and Stress Management
Use your calendar (!)‏ Take breaks Eliminate stressful interruptions Look for software help Balance your life and work to your own liking, not your boss's or spouse's
Further Resources “ Being Wired or Being Tired: 10 Ways to Cope with Information Overload” by Sarah Houghton-Jan (from Ariadne )‏ "How to Stop Your Inbox Exploding" by Cory Doctorow Information Overload: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us by Jonathan B. Spira
Questions? Sarah Houghton-Jan web: www.LibrarianInBlack.net IM: LibrarianInBlack Skype: LibrairanInBlack Facebook: facebook.com/librarianinblack Twitter: twitter.com/TheLiB email: [email_address]

More Related Content

Information Overload is the Devil

  • 1. Information Overload is the Devil Sarah Houghton-Jan Digital Futures Manager for the San Jose Public Library author of LibrarianInBlack.net This presentation will be at LibrarianInBlack.net
  • 2. What does “Information Overload” mean to you?
  • 3.  
  • 4.  
  • 5.  
  • 6.  
  • 7.  
  • 8. “ We have become far more proficient in generating information than we are in managing it, and we have also built technology that easily allows us to create new information without human intervention.” ~Jonathan B. Spira
  • 9. “ In an online world of small pieces loosely joined, librarians are among the most well qualified and highly motivated joiners of those pieces.” ~ John Udell – “Remixing the Library”
  • 10. Top 5 Barriers to Dealing with Information Overload 1) Lack of time (or perceived lack)‏ 2) Lack of interest or motivation 3) Not encouraged/threatened by management 4) Not knowing where to start 5) Frustration with past attempts
  • 11.  
  • 12. 10 Tips for Dealing with Information Overload
  • 14. Inventory your inputs Inventory your devices Think before sending/subscribing Schedule yourself (including unscheduled work and tasks)‏ Use downtime Stay neat Keep a master waiting list
  • 16. Weed, weed, and weed again Teach others communication etiquette (and stick to it)‏ Schedule unplugged times Unplug at will
  • 17. #3: RSS & Twitter Overload Techniques
  • 18. Limit your feeds and following Use lists to organize feeds & Twitter friends Use RSS when applicable Use RSS to send you reminders
  • 19. #4: Interruptive Technology Overload Techniques
  • 20. Phones, text messaging, IM, Twitter Use these technologies when appropriate Check when you want to Don't interrupt yourself Use your status message Lobby for IM or Twitter at work
  • 21. #5: Phone Overload Techniques
  • 22. Use the phone when appropriate Turn it off Keep your number private Let it ring Work = work, home=home
  • 23. #6: Email Overload Techniques
  • 24. Stop “Doing Email” Start scheduling email scanning time Use email when appropriate Deal with email by subject Keep your inbox nearly empty Filter your messages Limit listservs Follow good email etiquette Delete and archive Work=work, home=home
  • 25. #7: Print Media Overload Techniques
  • 26. Just because you can touch it, doesn't mean you should keep it Cancel, cancel, cancel (CatalogChoice.org)‏ Weed what you do have
  • 28. Choose entertainment thoughtfully Limit television viewing Schedule entertainment time Use your commute to your benefit
  • 29. #9: Social Networking Overload Techniques
  • 30. Schedule time on your networks Pick a primary network and point other sites toward it Limit your “in-network IM”
  • 31. #10: Time and Stress Management
  • 32. Use your calendar (!)‏ Take breaks Eliminate stressful interruptions Look for software help Balance your life and work to your own liking, not your boss's or spouse's
  • 33. Further Resources “ Being Wired or Being Tired: 10 Ways to Cope with Information Overload” by Sarah Houghton-Jan (from Ariadne )‏ "How to Stop Your Inbox Exploding" by Cory Doctorow Information Overload: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us by Jonathan B. Spira
  • 34. Questions? Sarah Houghton-Jan web: www.LibrarianInBlack.net IM: LibrarianInBlack Skype: LibrairanInBlack Facebook: facebook.com/librarianinblack Twitter: twitter.com/TheLiB email: [email_address]