Information Overload. How to mitigate its effects as a working-class student.

Oxford Dictionary defines information overload as “exposure to or provision of too much information or data”. The main challenge for consumers of information is information overload.

“Information overload is a state of being overwhelmed by the amount of data presented for one’s attention or processing. The term is used to refer not only to situations involving too much data for a given decision but also the constant inundation of data from many sources that is characteristic of modern life”.

Some symptoms of information overload are: inefficient work, confusion, delay in making decisions, lack of critical evaluation of information, loss of control over information, refusal to receive communication, lack of general perspective, greater tolerance for error, anxiety, stress, etc. Generally the brain becomes overworked.

How do you know if your brain is overworked?

Overworking the brain leads to brain fog.  This occurs when the brain is under strain. This comes with the following symptoms: a feeling of being dazed and confused, headaches, thinking more slowly than usual. It also leads to an inability to remember things or even tasks just completed, mental fatigue, and mood swings.

What are examples of information overload?

As a student of LBS, during the intensive week, so many classes are held back-to-back with so much information released to the student to assimilate in a short interval of time. When you try to consume too much data at one time, your brain may become overwhelmed by all the information. This also happens when for example; you tried to read a book while listening to music and watching television.

What happens when your brain takes in too much information?

Since most students running the EMBA programme at LBS are company executives there is likelihood of other sources of information originating from work and competing for attention with the information from class work at LBS. When there is too much information to process, you may feel cognitive overload. This happen when you reach a point of paralysis of information; not being able to process and then act on what is heard.

Interestingly enough, making simple improvements to your health and well-being could increase your productivity and reduce your sense of overload. For example, exercising before work or classes has been shown to increase the mental performance and levels of energy.

Information overload is a growing challenge for organizations across the world while improving employee experience (EX) is a top priority for most businesses. However, 36% of managers say they’re suffering from poor health due to the excessive amount of information they have to process at work.

There can be many causes of information overload, but some of the most common include:

• Having too many sources of information.
• Trying to do too much at once.
• Lack of organization.
• Outside sources, such as the media.
• The sheer volume of information available.

What problems can too much information cause?

It can lead to overstimulation, also referred to as sensory overload. This is when your senses are overwhelmed with too much information at once. This can cause you to have difficulty processing what you’re taking in. People who use their devices excessively have also reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as: Excessive worry.

How do you relax your brain from information overload?

• Get things out of your head by doing a brain dump.
• Follow the two-minute rule.
• Put similar task together and execute them at once.
• Avoid multitasking.
• Limit the distractions.
• “Eat your frog” first thing in the morning.
• Prioritize tasks and activities and delegate as much as you can.
• Take some break.

Information that actually meets the user’s needs is less likely to overwhelm. Let’s focus on the one with highest priority first.