Too Much Information - Managing Digital Overload

Too Much Information!!! Managing Digital Overload

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»  Librarian »  Technology Trainer »  Digital Literacy Specialist »  Library Training Consultant »  Kixal »  Contra Costa County

Digital Overload Exposure to or provision of too much digital information or data.

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Effects of Digital Overload »  Increased anxiety »  Reduced creativity »  Reduced productivity

Causes

Skills

Goals

Causes

Skills

Goals

What causes digital overload?

Information Streams

New Technologies

Multitasking

Connectivity Email

Distractions

Balance DIGITAL OVERLOAD

DIGITAL OVERLOAD

New Technologies

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Information Streams

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Connectivity

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Email

Multitasking

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Distractions

Balance

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Information Streams

New Technologies

Multitasking

Connectivity Email

Distractions


Causes

Skills

Goals

What is a skill?

Schedule Time

Technology Tools

Be Selective

Prioritize Discipline

Breaks

Boundaries DIGITAL OVERLOAD

Be Selective

Ask these questions: •  Is it necessary? •  Is it useful? •  Is it an improvement?

If the answer is no, then wait to adopt!

#1

Be Selective

To learn more about new technologies, visit: •  http://www.cnet.com/ •  http://www.pcmag.com/ •  http://www.macworld.com/ •  http://www.wired.com/

#1

Prioritize Information

Choose your streams wisely

Catch only what you can

Stop collecting information Set up a system

#2

Prioritize Information

Top

• Email

Mid

• Facebook

Low

• Twitter

#2

Schedule Time

Set aside time for:

•  Email •  Reading •  Thinking

Eliminate (or reduce) distraction!

#3

Schedule Time

Tools to help with scheduling •  Calendar programs •  Toggl.com •  Countdown timer

#3

Embrace Discipline

Focus on one task at a time Set an intention or goal Turn off notifications Tell your coworkers

#4

Embrace Discipline

#4

Learn Technology Tools #5 How much do you know about your settings? •  Email •  Listserv •  Facebook •  Calendar

Take the time to learn – just 5 minutes a week!

Learn Technology Tools #5 Learn from these websites: •  http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ •  http://www.gcflearnfree.org/ •  http://lifehacker.com/ •  http://www.lynda.com/ ($)

Pro Tip: Email

1. Set filters to keep newsletters out of your inbox 2. Use flags & color-coding to indicate priority or project status 3. Delete or move unnecessary emails from you inbox

Take Breaks

Remember to: •  Move your legs •  Stretch your wrists •  Look around •  Turn off your technology

Take a break from technology every hour!

#6

Take Breaks

Apps for taking a break: •  http://eyeleo.com/ •  http://www.monkeymatt.com/bigstretch •  http://breaktimeapp.com/ ($) •  https://freedom.to/ ($)

#6

Set Boundaries

Make a conscious choice: •  To connect (or not) •  To use only one device •  To leave your device behind

#7

Schedule Time

Technology Tools

Be Selective


Breaks


Causes

Skills

Goals

What will you do to manage your digital overload ?

Ac/on

•  Pick one challenge

•  Pick one skill

•  Write down three related goals

•  Share those goals

Information Streams

New Technologies

Multitasking

Connectivity Email

Distractions


Schedule Time

Technology Tools

Be Selective


Breaks


Goals

Goals

Practice

Awareness Awareness

Practice

Goals DIGITAL OVERLOAD

DIGITAL HARMONY

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Thank you! Please stay in touch!

Crystal Schimpf [email protected]

@crystalschimpf www.kixal.com

Infopeople Online Course begins December 8





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Articles

»  Conquering Digital Distraction (Harvard Business Review, 2015) https://hbr.org/2015/06/conquering-digital-distraction

»  Turn Digital Overload to your advantage (Harvard Business Review, 2015) https://hbr.org/2015/05/turn-digital-overload-to-your-advantage

»  Americans suffer technology overload, but we want more (CIO, 2013) http://www.cio.com/article/2382047/byod/americans-suffer-technology-overload--but-we-want-more.html

»  Tech Overload? Gen Y workers are feeling it, study says (Associations Now, 2013) http://associationsnow.com/2013/10/tech-overload-gen-y-employees-are-feeling-it-study-says/

»  Recovering from Information Overload (McKinsey Quarterly, 2011) http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/organization/recovering_from_information_overload

»  Too much information (The Economist, 2011) http://www.economist.com/node/18895468

Books »  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown (Crown Business, 2014) »  The Organized Mind by Daniel J. Levitin (Dutton, 2014) »  Overload! How Too Much Information is Hazardous to Your Organization by Jonathan B. Spira

(Wiley, 2011) »  Unplugged: How to Live Mindfully in a Digital World by Orianna Fielding (Carlton Books, 2015) »  The Myth of Multitasking: How “Doing it All” Gets Nothing Done by Dave Crenshaw (Jossey-

Bass, 2008) »  168 Hours: You Have More Time than You Think by Laura Vanderkam (Portfolio, 2011)