So, be assured that everyone experiences information overload from time to time, more so when one is starting something new. Be it a new job, learning a new skill or any other undertaking or venture. In order to keep control of ourselves from being overwhelmed we need to learn to manage ourselves and the functioning of our brain power.

One very critical area where managing information overload is important is when one is starting a new job. A new job comes with excitement and challenge but also brings with it the tasks of learning, understanding and absorbing tons of new information. It also includes the whirl of meeting new colleagues, understanding the new job, learning new skills which may be required by the job. All the extra burden can cause a brain overload and needs to be managed, so that you are settled and useful in your new role at the earliest. A huge part of succeeding is determined by how quickly one can pick things up and start to be productive in the new role.

In order to overcome and beat the feeling of overwhelm there are two things which you need to focus on :

1. LEARN TO MANAGE YOURSELF : It is important to recognize the signs of information overload which could manifest in you as a headache, mood swings, or even frustration and fatigue. Do not ignore these signs and also learn not to become anxious or alarmed. In such a situation using SELF-TALK helps us to gain control of ourself and normalize the situation. Using positive thoughts to normalize the setting and making it easier to handle.

The way to manage information overload is to distance yourself from the situation and your feelings towards it. This would also involve acknowledging the emotions you are experiencing taking a step back from the situation and not letting it impact you physically and mentally.    

2. LEARN TO MANAGE YOUR BRAIN : You can learn to reserve your energy and focus on processing the information you are reading so that you are less likely to encounter an information overload. Try to avoid doing things that make your brain work harder than required.

Our brain learns to suck up information which is available around us. It keeps what is immediately required in our short-term memory and information which may be required in the future is shifted to our long term memory. Information that is not required can be deleted and by sorting and storing relevant information we can avoid overload.

3. LEARN TO USE TECHNOLOGY EFFECTIVELY : Utilizing the tools available in the age of technology is up to us, to use it to our advantage as required and store whatever information we do not need right away. It is up to us to use the organizations knowledge management systems to access and utilize important information or develop our own information system which can helps us to access the information we need. By doing so we reduce the stress on ourselves and organize our data plus decrease our brain clutter.  

At the beginning it can be incredibly difficult and at times overwhelming, Too much information and data can cause an overload and we may struggle to absorb and process it all. All this may hamper our ability to achieve and give our best performance. This may happen if we try to learn as much as possible rapidly causing an overload. It may also happen if during the first days we spend too much time reading about the organization, scanning reports, presentations, meeting too many people etc so that at the end of the day we feel dull and overwhelmed unable to take in anything else. This results in a feeling of data smog and may cause stress related issues like headaches, inability to focus and in extreme cases also burnout.

To avoid such a scenario we can instead be efficient and use available tools to create a Word or Google document where we can write down and maintain the information that we do not require immediately. Especially when a person is in a new job or has been given a new assignment, this is a practical way to manage the information load effectively and give our best performance.

Much attention is being given to managing information overloads as it affects everyone at some point of time. Most people are not aware of the fact that our brain is already employing numerous ways to cope with information overload. It is constantly involved in the process of absorbing, integrating, connecting and storing the required information. It is also constantly updating, deleting and recycling information as required. Being aware and conscious of these functions being performed by our brain is the key to effectively managing information overload.  

Remember that “After you have prioritized and you start working, knowing that what you are doing is the most important thing for you to be doing at that moment is surprisingly powerful.”― Daniel J. Levitin