Consider how much information we are bombarded with each day: from the arrival of the newspaper in the morning to the news from dozens of TV news channels; social media inputs, the headline notifications on our handheld devices beeping at us every few minutes… it can all be quite overwhelming. We cannot switch it all off; after all we are social beings who have to keep in touch with each other and remain informed about the world that we live in. What then is the solution to this information overload?
What is information overload?
According to researcher and author Matthew Crawford human attention is a finite resource. Each of us has only a limited amount of it; as such it is a scarce commodity. This informs the concept of attention economics, which seeks to manage information in an optimal way. Right now there is a deluge of information coming at each of us because of the digital era we live in. Content is immediately available and abundant and is a constant stream from multiple sources. This can be stressful and fatiguing for the brain to take in and keep up with. There is also evidence to show that this information overload creates more interruptions in our workday adding to the stress; causing disrupted or poor decision making.
How to cut the clutter
Information overload undoubtedly clutters up the mind and the workday. So firstly, identify the sources: emails, social media, private messaging apps, TV, books and other reading material. Which are the biggest sources of information and what is the most frivolous and distracting?
Once you’ve identified the sources of this, you can prioritize and set time aside for each. It will take some self-control and discipline but it can be done. Check email only at specific times; then either act on or delete/archive the mail. That is done and dealt with. Set some time aside for social media rather than constantly checking in throughout the day. Limit TV viewing; don’t continue to watch even a TV news debate beyond a point.
How yoga helps deal with information overload
And of course, prioritize yoga! Make this time all about yourself and your time without interruptions and distractions. Try to switch off or mute your phone, or enable settings so that you are notified only about very important calls or messages from family. Give your yoga session your full attention and commitment. The important thing is to think of that hour as sacrosanct time for you and your health and wellness. This is the time to look within, breathe deeply and contemplate rather than think about things that you need to do, about some Facebook photo, a news item or even about work.
When you do yoga, this is a time to divest – in a sense. It is the time to clear your head and to relax physically, mentally and spiritually. When you do this with full commitment, you will find that you can largely combat the negative impacts of this information overload. Give it your best shot, the power of yoga is immense; I can tell you this personally!