Re: Managing Information Overload
I get so many emails that I don't have time to read, let alone answer, all
of them. Yet I am accountable for them once I do receive them.
Then there are the umpteen thousands of conversations I have over the course
of a few months.
Then there are all the bookmarks for websites of interest (professional or
personal).
etc.
And, yes, I do flag info from "important people", "important topics", etc.
Even so, the info grows incredibly. Does anyone have strategies for dealing
with these - other than apathy?
I doubt that these are miracle solutions, but my main methods are:
- filtering e-mails into different folders. For example, I have one folder for messages from this list, so they don't crowd my inbox. I turn off any notification of new messages, too. Then I can read the messages when I want to take a short break. Similarly, a large number of spammers and messages from a few people whose messages I don't care to read go directly into the Trash.
For some reason, many tech-writers don't use filters, yet they're easy enough to use.
- for me, a PID is like an electronic pad of sticky notes. Over the last few months, I've gotten good enough with the graffiti alphabet on my Palm that I can take notes of conversations while I talk.
- I've become very good at scanning. I only actually read about half of the message I get.
When these tactics fail, I simply tell myself that, compared to some of my personal crises in the last few years, letting an e-mail go unanswered for a day or so is pretty irrelevant.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
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That the game could get that rough,
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References:
Managing Information Overload: From: Bal Simon
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