How to survive information overload
Do you check your email every 10 minutes?Do you read everything in your RSS feeds and Twitter streams until your brain hurts?Is your Facebook account always open?Do you have hundreds of unread emails?Is your browser’s bookmarks a mess?
If you answered yes to all of them then you better start making changes to your online behavior because frankly, you’re not accomplishing anything. If you want to take charge of your life and be productive, there are ways to do it and fortunately, it doesn’t require extreme measures. Here are 9 steps from successful author and entrepreneur Bob Walsh (from his latest book The Web Startup Success Guide).
- Create a firebreak. Bob suggests setting your IM status to “unavailable” but I prefer closing my IM, email, Twitter, turning off my cellphone, and other communication tools when I want to focus. There also moments when I simply “Mark as Unread” everything in my email.
- Reset email expectations. Don’t be afraid to tell the whole world that you may reply only after a few days or not at all.
- Reset email usage. Start unsubscribing to every cool or (promises to be cool) website, online marketer, online retailer, etc. you have signed-up over the years. Ok, that sounds too drastic but in any case, you should only keep those that provides real value.
- Set IM boundaries. If it is absolutely necessary to keep your IM open, at least set your status to “Unavailable” or “Busy”.
- Time-box and group your social media interactions. Work when it’s time to work, play when it’s time to play. Set a period to check Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking websites. I usually do this for 10-15 minutes during lunch break, and about an hour during the night after dinner and the kids are asleep (Some stuff are not safe for children).
- Set your public telephony to voicemail. Ideally, don’t just give your number to anyone but if you can’t help it, setup your voicemail. If you have a mobile phone, tuck it away when you’re working.
- Schedule a communication (no-communication) periods. In my previous job, I instituted a “Do Not Disturb” period for everyone in my team. This is a 2-hour period where you have the right not to answer any emails or phone calls or attend a meeting. Similarly, we have a “Disturb Me” period to have scheduled and unscheduled meetings.
- Go to the bank and get $100 in dollar bills. Since you are wasting time every time you check your email impulsively, and you know that time is money, you might just as well throw away dollar bills in your trash can. If this can’t change your online behavior, I have no mode ideas what can.
By the way, if you are working in a startup or thinking of starting one, I highly recommend Bob Walsh’s The Web Startup Success Guide. If you’re way past the motivation stage and ready to take your dream to the next level, this books contains numerous action items to get you going.
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I’m always online. Even in my dreams. It hurts you know.
Johan
23 Nov 09 at 6:10 pm
wow lolo greggy, thanks for the info… may natutuhan ako.
mato
26 Nov 09 at 4:39 pm