3 things you should know about - information overload

Power supply

Information, as we know, is power. So you'd think the more you get hold of the better off you'll be. Not true at all - with information it's quality rather than quantity that matters. Having an excess of the stuff will not improve your performance - it's much more likely to prevent you getting anything done. This is a real problem in our Information Age, which makes finding things out so much easier. The unlimited supply threatens to turn many into infoholics - so hooked on the stuff they don't see the harm it's causing until it's too late to stop.

Self-discipline

Tools such as voice-mail, e-mail and the internet were designed to save effort, but often do the exact opposite. It has become fashionable to complain about how much time they eat each day. But you can't blame technological advances without taking a hard look at how you use them. Systems that store messages don't need to be checked every few minutes. Instead, you can choose to use them as a shield against interruptions.

Keep it simple

Advances in technology mean that what you know is less significant than how quickly you can find it out, so resist the temptation to amass and hoard information. Go and get it as you need it and force yourself to stick to what's relevant to the task in hand. Don't let uncertainty push you into finding out every last thing there is to know - first get the basics, then decide what else you need. It's easier to cope with the concise and simple.