Information Overload -- I think I'm drowning!

Hello everyone...

Information Overload is a topic I have been wanting to talk about for a couple of weeks now... but as per usual I kept getting distracted on other things... and then one thing led to another ... and you know the rest! 

My horoscope today (yeah... I like to listen to them each morning) said focus!  Fancy that!  So focus it is... and I am going to focus on this topic today -- if it is the last thing I do!

We live in a hectic time.  There are so many commitments and things we have to do in our life.  And there is so much information out there that we are having, or wanting, to absorb.  And sometimes we can get to a point where we are suffering from Information Overload.  This quickly leads to feelings of being overwhelmed and arrrrggggghhhhhh!

Let me illustrate... at the beginning of the year, one of my major goals was to design a Personal Development website (major goal achieved!).  I had no idea where to get started... so that led me to learning about websites.  I completed 2 online courses at the completion of which Aspirations Plus was created. 

I quickly found out that it's all very well having a website... but what do you do with it??  I did lots of searches and followed up various leads and subscribed to all kinds of newsletters.  I had no experience or knowledge or skills whatsoever in SEO (search engine optimisation), marketing, blogging, Copywriting, etc etc!

This, coupled with my ongoing interest and love of anything to do with Personal Development, found me in so many subject areas!  There is so much information from amazing experts around the world readily available on the net... and I wanted to know what they are all saying!

One site would lead to another, and then another, and then off on another aspect of personal development, and don't forget marketing, and then ... what about my book, "Outer Mongolia... no longer a fantasy" !  Wow!

Over the last few months, I realised something about myself... I was becoming extremely scattered and trying to absorb too much on too many different topics.  And this is fine when your life isn't filled with work and/or family commitments. 

I know I have been very absorbed over the last few months with the illness and subsequent death of my dad... but I fell into the biggest trap that I try to alert my clients about (even psychologists stuff up in their personal life!).  I of all people should have been aware of what was happening... but I didn't allow myself to listen to me.

So where is this leading??  Well... I'm making a concerted effort right now to eliminate much of the information overload... and as my horoscope said this morning... focus.  I'm about to clear the decks!  I'm about to become more disciplined within myself and be very strict on not following up absolutely every single lead or link that comes my way.

And the reason I'm writing about this and sharing it with you... is that I know I'm not the only one that this happens to!  Sure... your details won't be the same as mine... but I know at some stage you have probably felt very overwhelmed with what's happening... and you just need to do what I'm about to do right this very second, and that is deal with your priorities... and don't let yourself go off on tangents!  Even just for a little while.

Has this happened to you?  Where you've been overloaded?  Follow the link and leave a comment below... I'd really love to hear your experiences!

You can also discuss this at Personal Development Partners http://www.personaldevelopmentpartners.com/showthread.php?p=2935#post2935

Best wishes
Jeanne

 

Comments

[Renee]

Wow! I feel as though I have met someone who knows ME!! I feel weird when other people look at me with these crazy looks as if I am full of it.....but they don't realize that I am and "it" is information. My two young kids complain that I read too much. I can't seem to get enough information and before I know it, I'm drowning in it as well. I want to write books and I have been looking into building an inspirational website as well. I ran across your website through another inspirational site I read daily. I read horoscopes as well, not that I believe that either but I find I learn a great deal through reading them and I research them to gain greater knowledge. I'm building my vocabulary each and everyday through reading and the dictionary seems to be a great companion for me. Some people tell me I MUST STOP but I stopped talking with them as they do not understand. This is my passion and I believe if I follow my passion, I will get to where I am meant to be. -I love your website! -Renee

[Jeanne May]

Hello Renee...

Thanks so much for your lovely comments! It's greatly appreciated!

You certainly will get to realise your passion! You have so much energy and enthusiasm... and you will get there.

In coming posts, I will be talking about what you can do and what you need to consider doing, when you are experiencing information overload.

Please comment as often as you like... and let me know if there is something specific we can cover. It's incredibly useful getting feedback.

Best wishes
Jeanne