We live in a constant state of information overload. Text. Emails. Tweets. Facebook updates. Phone calls and voicemails. Television shows. News (print and on tv). Etc. Some of us have a higher tolerance for the level of information that we consume (others, not so much). For example, I’m willing to read more blogs, more books, Tweets, updates, and surf the web more than the next guy. The other guy just wants to read the newspaper, get to his email and go about the rest of his day. For me, it’s part of my creative process. It’s where I find some of the valuable stuff people like so much.
At the end of the day our tolerance threshold is going to vary based on our personality, level of patience, etc. That’s ok. You can however, create better filters to manage your intake of content…
Creating Better Filters:
Here’s a couple of things that you can do…
- Use Twitter Lists to filter through content better. For example, I have a “News & Resources” that serves as my lead resource on new fresh content.
- Use Facebook Lists to manage contacts better. Nothing gets busier than the news feed on your Facebook account. Manage your intake of content by segregating your groups better.
- Schedule some time in the “Alone Zone.” That’s that space and time when you find yourself most productive. For some it’s early in the morning, for others it’s late at night. Recognize when you’re the most productive, and force yourself to turn off all distractions to get things done.
- Use Rescue Time (productivity tool) to force yourself to stay on task and steer clear of distractions for getting things done. Rescue Time will block you out of accessing certain social networking sites and more to keep you on task.
- Use AwayFind to manage your email better. Rather than checking your email every 10 minutes, use AwayFind to manage your email better. AwayFind will notify you when you receive an urgent message (like an email regarding a Sale or a Contract for example). Using AwayFind as a filter, you don’t have to worry about checking email every 10 minutes.
In the end, remember, reading through crap is busywork, not real work. What do you do to manage your time and stay productive?
Updated: I wanted to update this post with a comment from Brad Coy that asks an excellent question:
“Maybe the question that one needs to ask oneself is, why do I choose to actively involve myself in all of this activity?”
Something to consider. What is really the end benefit? Or is it all just busywork? Food for thought…
Photo Credit: Moriza
Hi Ricardo
I heard someone say that there's only one thing worse than having 60 emails in your inbox… and that's having no emails in your inbox.
That just about sums it up.
I think the other comment, which is apt is that these days we know less and less about more and more.
Thanks for the list of tools, I'll give some a try… if I can find the time. LOL
BTW – I'm guessing that thios is the first post of the one a day series.
Am I right?
Haha! Well if you choose one of them, I say go with AwayFind. I love 'em. (I use it for email of course).
And yes, this is the first post of the one a day series (though I guess I could consider the actual challenge post the first in the series). 🙂
You're a brave man Ric – the blogging community are monitoring your progress… no pressure there then. LOL
LOL – Bring it!
Hey Ricardo,
Great points.
More than anything else, there is a choice being made here. Before filters can be put in place, maybe the question that one needs to ask oneself is, why do I choose to actively involve myself in all of this activity?
I'm sure the anser a lot of times for people will be: To avoid ones own experience of deficient or simply just to fill themselves up with an excess of busyness and connection to feel less alone.
Not to get too heavy on ya'… just something to consider. I do 🙂
Not heavy at all. Really like the question tho… The thing to identify is, am I looking for busywork or is this really benefiting me in some way.