Are you addicted to information?
Think about your average day. How much information comes to you in 24 hours?
- We subscribe to more blogs than we have time to read.
- We sign up for podcasts that we’ve found to be valuable.
- Restaurants and gyms have multiple monitors with “Breaking News” on the screen.
- Our inbox fills with emails faster than we can respond to them.
- We attend meetings, handle phone calls and urgent conversations.
- Advertising flashes on high-definition billboards as we drive the interstate.
- We listen to audio books while exercising.
We have more information available than ever before. It’s good stuff – so we sign up for it. But
when something better comes along, we don’t replace anything – we just add it. It starts small,
but over time it grows. What starts as a genuine desire to learn becomes a full-blown
consumption addiction.
But consuming isn’t the same as learning – and learning isn’t the same as doing.
I read a lot. Every time I have a few spare minutes, I grab something and read it. I usually have
multiple books going at a time, and I rotate between them . . . depending on my mood.
A couple of years ago, I added podcasts to the mix. It started with one that I really connected
with, so I ended up subscribing to it . . . and it shows up automatically once a week. I figured I
could listen to it while driving.
But that podcast interviews different guests. One time, the guest was so good that I subscribed to
his podcast as well.
That means I was getting two each week.
Over time it became three, then four.
Currently, I have seven amazing podcasts that show up every week. I should be excited; but
instead, I get overwhelmed. If I get behind, I feel guilty . . . and feel like I need to “binge listen”
to catch up. That’s in addition to the monthly CD’s from a professional speaking association I’m
in, the blogs I follow, the articles I read and the books on my shelf (each of which has a
bookmark about 40 pages in).
I’m an information addict.
Are you?
I love to learn. But I also create content to help people build their communication skills so they
can have stronger relationships. Yes, it’s good content. But if you’re an information addict –
consuming without changing – I’ve become your dealer.
You love the rich resources, but you have a day job. And you want a life. You want to fulfill
your responsibilities and keep margin in your life.
How can you break the addiction, triage the incoming information, and affect genuine change in
your life?
Should You Quit Learning “Cold Turkey?”
I don’t think so.
But I had an epiphany a while back:
- I have a ton of information I’ve picked up from all these inputs.
- I’m not doing anything with that information.
I haven’t changed. I just have more information in my brain.
Someone said, “Knowledge without application is like the wind without a sail to harness it.”
If I read anything without changing my attitude or my perspectives or my actions, my reading is
simply entertainment. It’s like eating cotton candy all day long.
Here’s an idea: What if I only read (or listened to) one book at a time . . . and didn’t move on to
a second book until I had actually taken action on the first one?
What if I didn’t listen to the second podcast until I had decided what to do about the first one?
Sure, not everything we read ends up having much impact. Maybe we won’t do anything
differently. But at least we took the time to ask, “Does this apply to me? Is there some way I can
put this into practice?” If the answer is “yes,” we try it out. If the answer is “no,” we move on.
You’ll probably read fewer books, listen to fewer podcasts and take in less information. But it
will change your life, your perspective, and your actions.
Go On a One-Week Cleanse
Do you feel like you’re overwhelmed with the amount of information you’re taking in, but
you’re afraid you’ll miss out if you cut back?
Don’t try to fix everything at once. Just pick one thing to take control of this week:
- Try driving with the radio off. If it’s uncomfortable, you’re going through withdrawal –
a sign of addiction. - Pick one book to read, and don’t pick up another one until you’ve finished. Then answer
this question in writing: What one thing am I going to do differently because of what I’ve
read? - Unsubscribe from one podcast. It doesn’t mean you can never listen to it; just don’t let it
come automatically. - Cancel a magazine subscription. If you really want to read it, you’ll have to make a trip
to the public library (remember those?) - Once you’ve removed something, don’t replace it with a different source of information.
You’re trying to eliminate, not substitute. - Don’t watch the news or read the newspaper for a week. Like avoiding junk food, you’re
cutting back on things that are toxic for your attitude. - Find a partner for accountability. Meet for coffee and discuss your successes and
challenges with the process. - Try it – and I promise you’ll see a difference in your stress level. You won’t feel as
overwhelmed, because you’ll be learning less – but applying it and living more.
Tell us what you’ll be doing this week in the comments below.