Let’s be real — more than half of you reading this won’t even read the entire of this post. I get it. We’re all busy, and there’s only so much time in the day. But here’s the question: Are you actually being selective about what you read? Or are you just randomly picking and choosing? Being selective implies there’s some method to your madness. Do you have one? Or are you just coping with information overload by skimming and hoping for the best?

A century ago, information was scarce. People in small towns would eagerly question any stranger passing through, just to get a glimpse of what was happening in the world. Those days are long gone. Now, we have the opposite problem — there’s too much information. Everywhere you look, someone’s telling you they have the solution to your problems, even if they don’t know what your problems are. Magazines, newsletters, and online content bombard you with more than you can ever possibly read, and some of it is so niche that you wonder who’s even interested.

Are You Thrashing?

In IT, we use the term “thrashing” to describe what happens when a computer gets overwhelmed. It’s trying to do too many things at once, so it spends more time juggling tasks than actually completing them. You can thrash, too, when you’re buried under an avalanche of trivial details and lose sight of what’s really important.

A Strategy for Handling Information Overload

1. Choose Your Primary Sources Wisely: Pick one or two key sources for your news. Back in 2005, I relied on ComputerWorld for tech news and Business Week for business updates. These days, I lean on a few trusted Twitter feeds to keep me in the loop. Subscribe to other magazines or newsletters if you want, but only skim them for anything that jumps out at you. Save the interesting stuff with tools like Evernote or Pocket, label it with some keywords, and plan to read it when you have downtime — on a flight, in a waiting room, etc. And remember, if something’s been sitting unread for a while, it’s probably not worth your time — just delete it.
2. Use Your Team as Information Collectors: Delegate. Have your team members focus on specific topics that matter to you and your business. Maybe one person keeps tabs on software development trends, while another tracks new tech developments. Then, have them summarize their findings in a regular meeting. This way, you’re not drowning in data, and you get the important stuff without the noise.
3. Don’t Contribute to the Problem: If you’re not reading something yourself, think twice before forwarding it to your team. If it’s not worth your time, it’s probably not worth theirs either. Overloading your employees with too much info just distracts them from what’s really important. Be a good filter and only pass along what truly aligns with your strategy and goals.
4. Keep Everyone in the Loop: When something important happens in your company, make sure it’s covered in your employee meetings. If your team knows you’ll keep them informed, they won’t waste time sifting through internal memos or trying to catch rumors.
5. Focus is Everything: Your success depends on how well you focus on the information that’s actually relevant to your business. Everything else is just noise. Your expertise only matters if you’re applying it where it counts.
6. Regularly Evaluate Your Progress: Set aside some time each month to reflect on how you’re handling information. Are you better off than you were last month? Worse? Figure out why and make adjustments. Keep refining your approach.
7. Keep Learning and Sharing: Articles like this one are here to give you ideas, motivation, and new ways to improve. Don’t just read them — discuss them with your colleagues and share your thoughts.
8. Send This to Your Boss: If you think this advice is useful, share it with your boss. It might help them manage their own information overload, and that benefits everyone.

Conclusion

Don’t blame information overload on the sheer volume of data out there. It’s about how you manage it and where you focus your attention. If you know how to stay afloat, you can handle any amount of information. Just like swimming in the ocean, you only get overwhelmed if you let the waves drag you under. Stay on top of it, and you’ll be just fine.