Information Reduction Plan

I like information. It allows me to be more creative and make connections between ideas.

But, when information no longer feels like a delight I know it’s time to do my Information Reduction Plan.

Stop Information Inflow

• Quit reading magazines
• No watching the news or getting it online
• No web surfing unless I need a specific piece of information
• No buying books, ebooks, or audio programs
• No going to the library to browse

Reduce Other Sources of Information

• Limit my reading of blogs in my Google Reader to 5 posts. I scan to see which look the most interesting.
• Limit newsletter reading time to 5 min a day
• No multi tasking like reading while eating or watching TV while checking email
• Read only one book at a time

Add Quiet

• Usually when I feel information overload it is because I have been stuffing my brain, but not allowing anything to digest
• Sit and do nothing every day, let the mind wander and process
• Journal before bed to get things out of the head

When I feel balanced again I slowly add more information – reading a few magazine articles, reading blogs for 15 min a day, slowly going through books or audio programs I have already bought and allowing myself time to implement or think on them.

Eventually I end up getting bogged down in too much information again. Curiousity does that to a person. But I know I have my Information Reduction Plan available when that happens.

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Photo Credit: Steve Parker

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