Taming the Torrent: Is Information Overload Drowning Your Mental Health?

Ever felt like you're drowning in information? You're not imagining it. We really are consuming more information now than ever before in human history.

How much information are we talking about?

A lot! Scientists measure it in zettabytes. Just so you know, one zettabyte equals one trillion gigabytes. To put it in perspective, a zettabyte holds what about 2 billion laptops with 500-gigabyte hard drives could store.

According to Forbes, as of January this year, there are over 1 billion websites on the internet. A new website is created every three seconds. Assuming you read 300 words per minute (WPM), by the time you finish reading this, 500 new websites will have been created.

On top of that, there are about 175 million tweets every day and about 30 billion pieces of content shared monthly on Facebook. Feeling overwhelmed yet?

With that much information coming at us, it's a big deal. Can we handle this data flood? Are we trying to remember too much? How will all this information impact our lives, our culture, or our businesses?

What is information overload?

Information overload happens when we're flooded with so much data that our brains feel like they're short-circuiting. In other words, your brain is bombarded with way more information than it can handle.

How we share, access, and consume information has also changed dramatically over the centuries. On the flip side, information has enriched our lives. However, it has also brought new challenges.

For example, have you ever found yourself unable to think clearly or forgetting what you were doing? That could be information overload in action.

This constant bombardment may also lead to confusion, indecisiveness, mental load, and (eventually) mental fatigue.

Your health may take a hit too.

You probably don't need us to tell you that sleep is important. But, if you're glued to your computer or phone at night, you're probably not getting nearly enough.

How much less? About two hours less, according to several recent studies and surveys.^1,2,3 They found that social media, phones, and other tech keep young adults up late and deprive them of sleep.

Scientists suggest we're less focused and more absent-minded because of the constant pull of technology and the quick bursts of information we crave.

The solution? A reality check on our addiction to information. So, what's the real cost of this information overload?

You become LESS efficient.

Multitasking is a myth. We've always believed multitasking boosts efficiency in the workplace, but, in reality, the opposite may be true. When you multitask, you often sacrifice quality, especially if you mix work tasks with checking non-work-related emails or instant messages.

Scientists suggest we can easily get addicted to constant notifications from emails, texts, and other alerts because they release small amounts of dopamine.*^4,5,6

Dennis Buttimer, CHC, M.Ed, RYT, CEAP, a life and wellness coach at Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, explains:⁷

"When we check our phones, our brains release a small amount of dopamine. Dopamine motivates us to take action and each time we hear a notification, we check our device. The problem is this dopamine boost is temporary and leads to a letdown. Our brains want more dopamine, which triggers the habit of checking our phones constantly throughout the day."*

These distractions can break our work into small chunks, giving us "email breaks" or similar pauses. But this habit definitely doesn't help productivity.

Psychology has long been fascinated by the effects of information overload and multitasking on the brain—with studies dating back to the 1990s.

So, what does all this research suggest? Studies show that frequent multitaskers have more trouble distinguishing useful from useless information. And the conclusion is always the same: we pay the price for multitasking, called the 'switching cost.'^8,9

That price is time—time to change attention, refocus, and time to correct mistakes (which we can make more of when multitasking).

The American Psychological Association (APA) also points out that "Although switch costs may be relatively small, sometimes just a few tenths of a second per switch, they add up to large amounts when people switch repeatedly back and forth between tasks... as much as 40 percent of someone's productive time."⁸

Remember, your Head [1st Brain] needs rest just like any other part of your body.

You are more likely to make bad decisions about important things.

Information overload can tire out your head-brain and reduce your attention span. When constantly bombarded with information, you typically have to make a bunch of small decisions that deplete your mental energy, leading to decision fatigue.¹⁰

This can make it harder to think clearly and prioritize effectively. The pressure and overwhelm from too much information can impair your judgment, causing you to make impulsive or poorly thought-out choices.

Additionally, the increased likelihood of mistakes due to processing so much information can further contribute to poor decision-making.

Daniel J. Levitin, neuroscientist, and author of "The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload," explains this really well:

"Decision-making is hard on your neural resources, and little decisions appear to take up as much energy as big ones. After making a lot of insignificant decisions, we can end up making really bad decisions about something important."

You may end up feeling lost or under constant pressure.

Extra tension and pressure are two other (obvious) challenges typically associated with information overload. Plus, if you're already juggling life stressors, the added tension from information overload can push you from just feeling the mental load to full-on anxious challenges.

Already prone to emotional ups and downs? Information overload can crank it up even more. Anxiousness challenges can mess with your thinking, making you see danger everywhere, constantly triggering your 'fight or flight' mode and putting you on a "cortisol rollercoaster" of highs and lows.

What does that mean exactly? Information overload can trigger cortisol, worsening any challenges you already have. And, as an added "bonus," it can also mess with your self-esteem.

For instance, have you ever felt like everyone at work is super focused and capable, while you're the only one struggling to keep up? Yeah, it's an awful feeling that can really drag you down.

And if you're binging on social media in your spare time, you're not doing yourself any favors.

Conclusion? Dealing with info overload can really hurt your confidence (especially if you have attention challenges). And, sometimes, you may feel like your natural talents—brainstorming, creativity, lateral thinking—are getting drowned out by the need to keep up with data, something your brain isn't wired for.

All these things—anxiousness challenges, pressure, low self-esteem, trouble with concentration—can pile up and lead to emotional unease or burnout.

4 ways to handle information overload.

So, is there any way to break out of this vicious cycle? The good news is, yes, there is.

Healthy lifestyle habits.

Keeping a healthy lifestyle can be very important to building mental strength and fighting off the negative effects of information overload. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep form the foundation of this approach.¹³

Stick to these routines. It can be an excellent way to create the stability you need to tackle the challenges that come with being bombarded by too much information.

Prioritize and filter information.

Not all information is equally important. By prioritizing what truly matters and filtering out the noise, you can manage the flow of information more effectively. Focus on the sources that provide value and try to ignore the rest. This way, you won't get bogged down by irrelevant details.

Practice mindfulness and digital detox.

Taking breaks from digital devices may do wonders for your mental clarity. Practicing mindfulness helps you stay present and reduces tension. A digital detox, even for just a few hours, allows your brain to rest and recharge, making it easier to process information when you get back online.^14,15

Schedule your information consumption.

Set specific times to check your emails and social media instead of constantly grazing on information throughout the day. This can help you manage your time better and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Turn off push notifications on your phone (or laptop) to stay focused and productive, rather than distracted by a constant influx of information.

Want to watch the news? Schedule times for it. No matter where you get your news, having a constant stream available all day may not be a great idea. Set a timer to hold yourself accountable, and don't get carried away.