How to Conquer Information Overload

It’s very simple: just create the right filters and blockers. I started doing this a few years ago when I got tired off an overload of unsolicited calls and snail mails. This quickly carried over to the digital space and the social graph. Suddenly I found myself spending too much of my daily attention and energy on just keeping up.

To declutter and simplify my life I did the following:

  1. Disconnected (and threw out) our TV, radio and stationary phone - no more news, random listening / watching or unsolicited calls. Signed up for Google Voice which I today only use as an answering machine for incoming calls.
  2. Signed up for do-not-spam services to avoid unsolicited mail and after we moved kept our new address secret by not using USPS’s forwarding. Today I get no mail.
  3. Deleted my Facebook account and a number of other services I was signed up for. I just got tired of listening to all the social noise.
  4. Focused my attention to Twitter, LinkedIn and selective RSS feeds to stay updated on my fields of interest and circle of collaborators.
  5. Unsubscribed to all email newsletters and started to apply InboxZero and write shorter email messages.

I often get the question if I’m not worried about missing out. I was in the beginning as it’s always hard to let go of certain behaviors but not anymore. After a while I realized that I became more informed and not less by blocking and filtering what was being automatically broadcasted and proactively seeking and searching for valuable insights and intelligence.

nycpast: more information One of my favorite buildings in NYC.
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nycpast:

more information

One of my favorite buildings in NYC.

This is what I call a real chef’s kitchen.
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This is what I call a real chef’s kitchen.

Excellent image of the different bubble phases. Project this over Case/Schiller Index. Where do you think we are?
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Excellent image of the different bubble phases. Project this over Case/Schiller Index. Where do you think we are?

whereisthecoool: Paul Newman plays tennis. Tennis is fun.
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whereisthecoool:

Paul Newman plays tennis.

Tennis is fun.

Very inspiring. But I wonder how applicable this is for the next gen knowledge worker who combines work, life and play successfully in everyday life? How would the new model look like?

Early Onset of Night: I recommend you fucking do it.

early-onset-of-night:

Write. Art. Sing. Dance. Pick up that guitar and never put it down.

Life is too short to worry about money or security. If you had it, what then? What to strive for? There’s a reason every band’s early albums are better than their later ones: HUNGER. How can you sing honestly, meaningfully about…

Now this is real, authentic passion from the heart for the mind, body and soul.

Infinite patience brings immediate results

Wayne Dyer

Unless we regain the art of silence and insight, the ability for non-activity, unless we substitute true leisure for our hectic amusements, we will destroy our culture and ourselves.

Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper

Working, living, playing, eating, sleeping, thinking and evolving in Florence!
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Working, living, playing, eating, sleeping, thinking and evolving in Florence!

My own opinion is enough for me, and I claim the right to have it defended against any consensus, any majority, anywhere, anyplace, anytime. And anyone who disagrees with this can pick a number, get in line and kiss my ass.

RIP Christopher Hitchens

Swedish-American Cinnamon Buns (16 buns : 1.5hrs) #wcwed Swedish cinnamon buns are healthy; American are big and fluffy. So I took the best from both worlds and here is the result: For the dough: 150 gram butter 2 cups milk 2 Tbs dry yeast 0.5 tsp sea salt 0.5 cup sugar 5 cups flour For the filling: 100 gram butter (soft) 2 Tbs cinnamon 2 Tbs sugar 1 cup of raisins Melt butter and add milk - reheat. Mix yeast, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Add the melted butter and warm milk. Add the flour. Knee for 5-10 minutes. Let rest for 45 minutes. Roll out dough into a thick rectangle. Add the butter, cinnamon and sugar mix, and sprinkle the raisins on top. Roll up and cut into 16 pieces, arrange into a “flower” on two pre-heated pizza stones (makes them softer and more fluffy). Paste w/ a lightly whisked egg and cook for 5-7 minutes in 525 °F.
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Swedish-American Cinnamon Buns (16 buns : 1.5hrs) #wcwed

Swedish cinnamon buns are healthy; American are big and fluffy. So I took the best from both worlds and here is the result:

For the dough:

  • 150 gram butter
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 Tbs dry yeast
  • 0.5 tsp sea salt
  • 0.5 cup sugar
  • 5 cups flour

For the filling:

  • 100 gram butter (soft)
  • 2 Tbs cinnamon
  • 2 Tbs sugar
  • 1 cup of raisins

Melt butter and add milk - reheat. Mix yeast, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Add the melted butter and warm milk. Add the flour. Knee for 5-10 minutes. Let rest for 45 minutes.

Roll out dough into a thick rectangle. Add the butter, cinnamon and sugar mix, and sprinkle the raisins on top. Roll up and cut into 16 pieces, arrange into a “flower” on two pre-heated pizza stones (makes them softer and more fluffy). Paste w/ a lightly whisked egg and cook for 5-7 minutes in 525 °F.