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Can we escape from information overload?
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Bottomless visual
The world in the 21st century is the same it used to be. It smells about the same, sound pollution is pretty stable. But the spill of information and distraction that comes to our vision has grown ceaselessly for two decades, with no sign of slowing down.
Our brains tend to lean heavily on the visual and prioritize sight over the other four senses.
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Information overload
- Information overload was a term coined in the mid-1960s by Bertram Gross, a social scientist.
- In 1970, writer Alvin Toffler popularized the idea of information overload as part of a set of predictions about eventual dependence on technology.
- Another set of academics wrote that information overload occurs when the amount of input exceeds its processing capacity.
- A 2011 study found that on a typical day, Americans were taking in five times as much information as they had done 15 years earlier.
- A 2019 study identified that our attention span is shrinking, probably because of digital overload.
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Technology pushed too much
It is probably too late to restore our attention span to that of our grandparents. After a decade of smartphone use and social media, the harm is perhaps irreversible.
Part of the problem in this age of overload is the constant insistence of notifications that seeks our immediate attention. When the body jumps to attention and for nothing of particular worth, it can be confusing.
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Find a balance
When we temporarily remove ourselves from information overload, our other senses start to sharpen. Hearing improves as well as smell and touch. We can think clearer. It can feel addictive to want to cut ties with visual overload.
But removing yourself from information can be alarming. While it may feel good for a while, it also leads to disorientation. Without it, you can't see the confusion; with it, you can't see the simplicity.
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Bruce Lee: The Symbol
In the 32 years he inhabited this planet, Bruce Lee created a legacy that is unparalleled in modern times.
His work, philosophy and lifestyle have influenced everything from video games to...
Be Water
While trying to diffuse his anger, Bruce Lee once started punching in the sea and had a profound realization.
Water, he understood, is of a neutral nature, having no form or shape of its own. He realized that to be invincible, he had to be as formless as water.
Giving Form To the Formless
The continued fascination with Bruce Lee and the never-ending need to capitalize on the man and the myth is the opposite of what he really intended.
His insights of being like water showcase his philosophy of having no philosophy at all. The formless structure that has to be assumed to live one’s life is destroyed the very moment anyone is influenced or tries to emulate Bruce Lee.
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Key Ideas
Have a Succession Plan
Alexander the Great built one of the largest empires in history in just a few short years, and it fell apart just as quickly. As soon as Alexander died, his generals carved up his empire into pi...
Know When To Take Big Risks
Prince William Of Orange led the Dutch rebellion against Spain, then the most powerful empire in the world. To stop the advance of the more powerful Spanish army he pulled down several dikes and flooded a large portion of the Dutch countryside, contributing largely to the defeat of the Spanish.
Recognize when you can't beat your competitors and find a way to differentiate yourself.
Maintain Your Flexibility
During the Cuban missile crisis, many of JFK's advisors advised a full military invasion of Cuba. JFK held off on these plans, opting instead for a naval blockade and negotiations with Soviet leaders, all while planning for a possible invasion if these tactics failed.
Don't commit yourself to a strategic path without first evaluating all of the options available to you.
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Losing Your Identity
Humans are social creatures, interdependent on one another. Socializing is at its core, a mental workout, and an essential part of brain development.
Being alone, one can start to lose ...
Being Alone Affects The Brain
Human beings form social circles averaging to 150 individuals; this is called the Dunbar’s Number.
A lack of people around us can actually make our brain shrink. The region known for formation of new memories, called the 'dentate gyrus', reduces in size if there is no human interaction. There is also a reduction in spatial processing (locating objects in a given space) and focus.
Solitude, Loneliness And Isolation
Positive solitude is a state of being alone without being lonely, in a contented manner.
Loneliness, on the other hand, is isolation with a hunger for social contact, something that distorts one’s perceptions, damaging the ability to interact in a normal way with others. It also lowers one’s self-esteem leading to a loneliness loop, characterized by social withdrawal and depression.