The world around us is full of notification
sounds noise; Our phones ding announcing a new text message, tens of announcements
that "You've got mail," Social media platforms send unstoppable
notifications, and the TV chirps out preparations for the upcoming elections and
what's happening in the Corona age endlessly.
Information Overload Day, October 20 of each
year, reminds us that so much information exists, and often this relentless
flooding will potentially harm our performance and motivation. Celebrating this
day would reduce any person's face pressure and tension when overflowing with
information. It is a day of awareness that encourages you to use only the necessary
content.
History of Information Overload Day
In 2007, A group of companies called Information
Overload Research Group (IORG), focusing on workplace productivity and emerging
technology, looked forward to raising awareness of what happens when you
overload your workforce and clients with the never-ending fire hose of information.
So, they have declared the Information Overload Day.
Research has found that the sheer amount of
knowledge streaming into our lives significantly affects persons' productivity
and companies. The average employee gets no fewer than 93 emails a day.
In 2015, the IORG challenged the business
climate by reducing overload by sending twenty percent fewer messages every
day.
It's very understandable to pair it with the
social media that dominates our lives, the endless noise of new text messages,
and the standard stand-by that is web surfing. What is less understandable is
that the time spent on these activities has serious economic effects, and the
time is spent on business reasons, not personal ones, to be clear.
Only think of the times you've been deep in the
midst of a project, and promptly your email buzzes, so you take the time to pause,
read, and respond. Then you have to take a while to refocus on your project and
start working again, preferably before another email comes in. It's these
little pauses that add losses up to $180 trillion. Hence, it's essential to realize
the importance of reducing information overload to control your thoughts and
decisions.
Tip to Bosses: Marsha Egan, a professional
efficiency coach, advises managers not to send "toxic emails" that
need urgent attention, saying: "The best gift any group can give each
other is never to use email urgently. If you need it within three hours, pick
up the phone."
These interruptions cost you more time than you
thought, and if you only eliminated them from your day, you would be shocked by
how effective you might be.
- Stop looking at your cell phone; stop reading your inbox any time it
dings.
- To better minimize the number of interruptions you get in a day, log out
of your email and log in just five times a day.
- Turn off the sounds, including the vibration, on your phone.
- Take care of both your mental and physical health—do things, such as
indulging yourself with meditation for a day. Relieve your mind and spirit!
- Use information filters. Select fewer sources to get your information to
stop this inevitable distraction from the endless stream of Facebook updates, Twitter
tweets, and LinkedIn newsletters.
- Save social networking sites and online surfing for scheduled break
periods (if allowed in the workplace) and set a time limit for them.
- Turn off work gadgets when you get home. If someone needs you urgently,
they can call.
Information Overload Day is about taking care
of and controlling the influx of information into your life and limiting it
when it is necessary.
Happy Information Overload Day! Use the hashtag # InformationOverloadDay to share your opinion and to express your appreciation for this day on social media.
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