Information Overload: How to Save Time & Energy

How do you save time in this fast-moving world? About 20 years ago, when the internet was new in many parts of the world, access to information was a huge problem. Saving time and energy wasn’t on most people’s priority list.

I remember, as medical students in the early 2000s, we used to buy medical literature (mostly abstracts from medical journals) on CDs. It was often outdated and wasn’t cheap! All of that is now available for free and up-to-date, thanks to the dawn of the information age.

Today, no one can complain about a lack of information. Instead, we are all drowning in the sea of info. The problem is, the majority of the info that most people consume is absolute garbage. You know what they say about garbage: it is garbage in, garbage out.

Thus, sifting through that rubbish to find the right info has become our new BIG problem. It is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

So, how do you save your time and energy and pretty much your sanity in this crazy world of information overload?

In this article:

• Tips to find quality information and avoid getting sucked into information garbage blackhole.
• How to save your time and energy and focus on the most important stuff.

Save time with quality information

Tip #1: Mainstream media

Follow a few RELIABLE and relevant local and international media to be aware of what’s going on around you and to identify opportunities. That’s it! But, don’t just focus on political news.

Have a mix with financial news sources and other sources relevant to your goals. Everything outside that will only help to lure and drown you in the sea of information garbage, making you feel overwhelmed and helpless.

Tip #2: Avoid “bad news” media like a plague

Don’t follow or subscribe to media houses whose sole purpose seem to be to make money by spreading bad or fake news and misery.

They will kill your spirit even on a good day and stop your progress on its tracks by making you believe consciously or subconsciously that there’s no hope, while others are busy taking action and making progress with their lives.

Tip #3: Social media friends and connections

Be highly selective in your choice of connections online. If a Facebook friend constantly bombards your timeline or inbox with garbage, unfollow or unfriend them.

Remember every second you waste on rubbish is a valuable time you will never ever get back. Having said that, if you don’t want to unfollow or unfriend, note that Facebook algorithms are good at analysing your behaviour. If you always ignore posts from a particular source, the algorithms tend to show you less from that source.

Tip #4: Social media groups

Avoid useless social media groups on WhatsApp, Facebook, etc, like you would avoid Coronavirus! I’ve left many of such groups because they are just a cyber black hole for sharing gossips, pessimism and negativity.

They are generally a huge drain on your time. (More on online time management below)

Tip #5: Save time with alerts

Use Google Alert services to get alerts on specific things you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for a job or a scholarship, you can set up an alert so that whenever there is a new opportunity based on your specifications, Google will email you with a link to the opportunity. I’ve been using this for a long time, and I find it very useful.

If you don’t know how to set up a Google Alert, simply google it. 😊 Or, watch a video on YouTube.

You can also subscribe for alerts on other websites relevant to your goals. E.g. if you’re looking for a scholarship, you can subscribe to receive alerts from scholarship websites.

Tip #6: Never underestimate the power of books

Don’t rely on just the internet for info. By “the internet” here, I mean social media, online articles, etc. I still find some of the most useful and actionable info in books (printed, electronic and audio).

Unlike social media, internet articles, etc, when someone commits to writing a book, they usually give it their best shot. Remember, they are distilling their lifetime knowledge and experience on that topic for you. Nothing beats that – it is pure gold!!!

Make reading a habit, not just a once in a blue moon thing. I read at least one book a month (mostly self-improvement books), every single month!

Having sorted out your sources of info so that only quality info flows your way, how do you manage your time better and avoid distractions to give yourself a chance to apply the info in your daily routines?

Saving time online

In this section, I share some more tips, but this time on how to manage your time better online and avoid distractions so that you can apply the info you consume into your daily life, to help move faster toward your goals.

Tip #7: Limit your time on social media unless…

Limit your exposure to social media to no more than 30 – 60 minutes per day. Remember that every minute you spent on social media is a minute you did not use to move toward your goals unless, of course, if you are using social media as part of your business, study or work.

If you are already addicted to social media (there’s such a thing!), I know this advice may be hard to implement. So, consider restricting your time on social media to your unproductive periods, such as during study or work breaks, in the evening, etc.

Tip #8: Avoid arguments and senseless debates

Avoid unnecessary arguments online or offline. I love Dale Carnegie’s conclusion on arguments: “You can’t win an argument. You can’t because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it.”

To paraphrase Carnegie, you can’t win an argument and still maintain the goodwill of the other person. So, what’s the point of winning an argument at the expense of your friendships? Is your need to massage your ego that valuable?

If your views are always different from a Facebook friend and the friendship is only online, it is best to part ways. It will save you and your friend’s time and energy. It will give you peace of mind, too.

Tip #9: Save time by limiting live chats

Avoid pointless live chats, too. A wise friend of mine used to say, “If you don’t have a plan for your time, someone will have a plan for it.”

Personally, I rarely do live chats. I don’t respond to a message with just “hello” or “hi” on social media. By responding to such messages, you’re confirming to the other person that you don’t have a plan for your time, and they can go ahead and waste it as they wish.

I treat my Messenger like an email. I check it a few times a day, read and reply (if necessary) without allowing myself to be held hostage by a screen. 😊

This approach saves me time and allows me to focus on my work and other important stuff.

Tip #10: Produce your own content

Don’t be an information CONSUMER all of the time – be a PRODUCER some of the time. Everyone knows something that others don’t. Share some quality info with your connections on social media. It is one of the best ways to build your reputation online.

Also, by doing so, people will subconsciously learn more about you, your likes and dislikes, so they can attract your attention to the right things, saving you time.

Tip #11: This tip is a bit controversial

Turn off notifications for all apps on your phone, except for a few essential apps, such as phone call, text messages and banking apps. In case you’re wondering, the answer is: no, Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media apps are not part of the definition of “essential” here!!!

I know this may sound too radical to some people, but hear me out, please. I first picked up this tip from a book. Initially, I wasn’t too fond of the idea either – I felt like the world would end if I did that, but I somehow summoned the courage to try it.

You know what? Since I first tried it two years ago, the world hasn’t ended. 😊 In fact, I’ve been wondering why the heck I didn’t try this sooner. I’ve now even gone two steps further. (1) My phone is perpetually in silent mode and has been for years! (2) I’ve moved all apps away from my home screen, except the calendar, alarm clock and Audible apps.

This way, I can’t see any of those pesky apps always seeking attention unless I feel like it, and I deliberately look for them.

I can now focus on any task without distractions, and I haven’t missed a thing. I can’t even imagine going back to my old ways. I respond to the important stuff first; everything else can wait. I’m no longer a slave to any device, and the freedom is so, so SWEET! 😊

Conclusion

Pick some of the ideas from this post and try. As Tony Robbins, the famous American writer and motivator, would say, “Take action. Your life will not change by just reading – you must act!”

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