The Shadowy Figure Behind the Door

Have you ever noticed the shadowy figure that stands behind the door to your email in-box? Take a good look. Could it be Oscar, the Overwhelm Ogre? Is it too dark to tell? Take a step closer. See that big block of wood that’s wedged in your email in-box door? See how it’s wedged in there so your in-box always stays open? Now look at the initials carved in the side of the block. O O O You know those initials. You know what they mean. Yep, our cute little friend here to the left (who really isn’t very cute the more you get to know him), has wedged your in-box open. Why? Because that’s one of his devilish ways of overwhelming you. As long as he keeps all that information flowing into your in-box, you’re going to experience information overload. And as long as you’re experiencing information overload, you’re going to experience overwhelm. Information Overload = Overwhelm You know you really have only yourself to blame for all that stuff that keeps flowing into your in-box every day, right? Nobody puts a gun to your head and forces you to subscribe to those blogs and opt in to those mailing lists, right? Why do we do it? Why do we download e-books we’ll never read? Why do we amass audio recordings we’ll never listen to? Why do we take teleclasses we’ll never use? Why do we sign up for programs we’ll never implement? Why do we hire people whose advice we’ll never heed? Because we’re looking for the magic answer. That magic combination of words that’s going to answer all our questions, solve all our problems, and make all our dreams of a successful business come true. (If it turns us blonde and gives us a beautiful figure, all the better.) Guess what? The magic answer doesn’t exist! If you weren’t already so overwhelmed with everything you’ve got to do, I would make you write it on the blackboard 100 times. The magic answer doesn’t exist! So stop looking for it. As for all that (bleep!) you’ve accumulated in search of the magic answer, do yourself a favor. Get rid of it. Yes, I said get rid of it. Get real. You’re never going to use it anyway. Get it out of your physical and psychological space. I’ll be honest. Getting rid of the detritus (now there’s a great word) of your tilting at windmills quest for the magic answer is going to add to your overwhelm at first. You’re going to feel really scared, as if you’re giving up the safety net under your high wire act. Trust me. After just a short while (maybe minutes, maybe hours, in rare cases maybe a whole day), you’re going to feel great. You’re going to feel like a weight has been taken off your shoulders. You’re going to feel lighter, even liberated. I have to admit that I am a major information junkie. I’ve hardly ever met a piece of information I didn’t feel the need to have, consume, or store. So I know how hard it is break your dependence on information. But if you want to get out from under overwhelm, you’ve got to just say no. Carol’s 7-Step Just Say No to Information Overload Program 1. Every morning, repeat 3 times, “There is no magic answer.” 2. Unsubscribe from all but the most essential mailing lists. 3. Unsubscribe from all but the most essential blogs. 4. Do not sign up for a free information program unless you already know the presenter and know he/she offers excellent content and value. (A good guideline: If you aren’t willing to pay for the information being offered, then you don’t need it.) 5. Do not purchase an informational product or program unless you already know the presenter and know he/she offers excellent content and value. 6. You must consume the information on your plate before you serve yourself seconds (and thirds and fourths and fifths). 7. Set a modest budget for informational products, programs, and services and stick to it. Congratulations! You’ve just yanked Oscar’s wedge out of your in-box door! You’ve just slammed the door shut against information overload. And, if I’m not mistaken, I do believe that’s Oscar I see slinking away.