Regarding my previous post “Cognitive Overload: Life Interrupted“, I have found two additional articles, one titled “Brain overload: Too much to do, too little time” and the other “Defeating Overwhelm“. Reflecting on these articles “cognitive overload” is often exhibited as having the following symptoms:
- Shrinking attention spans.
- Uncompleted tasks.
- Delayed decision making.
- Superficial responses to questions.
- Causes a decline in our performance, becoming less and less efficient.
- An addiction to crisis.
Personally I have experienced cognitive overload as a lack of focus, distracted and being constantly interrupted making it difficult to find time to focus and complete tasks. With the increased use of technology “cognitive overload” is something we need to learn to deal with, as part of modern life.
Thinking about how I could deal with the increased interruption and information overload, I have collated some strategies to be used to deal with cognitive overload.
Focus on One Task at a Time
If you’ve made it a habit to multi-task, change your approach to work. Multi-tasking employed frequently as a means of coping with overwhelming demands of daily life. However, research by David Levy, has shown the we (male or female) are not good at multitasking. In fact, multitasking make less effective! Especially tasks that require some serious thought or a high level of quality. As Stever Robbins says:
Multitasking is a chance to accomplish many things poorly, all at once.
I suggest when working on tasks requiring some thought and a quality outcome, that you remove all distractions and possible sources of interruptions, shutdown your e-mail client, switch the phone onto voice mail and focus on completing one task at a time. This is usually best completed at a time that is suited to your energy levels.
Get Organized
By becoming more organised we are able to focus more effectively and make optimal use of our time. An excellent system, which I’m personally implementing, and would recommend is David Allen’s book “Getting Things Done“. In fact, many of David’s strategies are designed to reduce information overload and help you to focus on completing one task at a time. More information on “Getting Things Done” or GTD for short can be found at:
- GTD Overview
- Getting Things Done Workflow Poster (PDF)
- Jason Womack’s Blog
- Getting Things Done Wiki
- Douglas Johnson’s Blog
Maintain Your Locus of Control
With the number of tasks that requiring our attention on a daily basis it’s easy to focus of “fixing” things that are out of our control. Identify that which you can directly control and focus on addressing those issues.
Focus on Quality Information
With the Internet, e-mail and other media, information is abundant, don’t just passively accept information. The majority of information is useless, seek quality information from credible sources.
Take a Break Looking for the Big Picture
When you’re overwhelmed by one crisis after another, take a break, take some time out, away from your desk to allow your mind to clear. Cognitive overload is from “too much, too fast” take a break and reestablish your boundaries.
See the bigger picture….take a step back and develop time to think. Without taking time to reflect on life’s experience we are doomed to repeat our past.
Technorati Tag: GTD; Information Overload
Related posts:
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Two additional GTD links I though would be useful are:
GTD Overviewand
Making Things Happen Worksheet