
How to Deal with Content Overload in 4 Simple Steps
The amount of content on the internet these days is extremely overwhelming. We’re constantly bombarded by new information (social media, email, articles, podcasts, etc.), and it’s hard to keep up. Sometimes, it makes us want to go nuts. Unfortunately, it’s only going to get worse.
Personally, I have struggled most with my overloaded inbox and the countless articles I come across and want to read. The number on the Mail app icon on my phone continues to rise, and I’m always guilty of having tons of tabs open across my mobile and desktop browsers. While I try not to lose sleep over these things, it’s definitely a problem that needs attention and soemthing we can all work on.
Here’s a 4-step process you can implement to fight against content overload:
1. AUDIT YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
We’re all guilty of following things we don’t really care about.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
It’s not like we’re making lifelong commitments to these people, companies, and media outlets once we click Follow. We’re simply opting in to hearing more from these entities because they were interesting to us at some point in time and hopefully continue to be so.
I’m a big believer in doubling down on the stuff you care about most, while simultaneously trimming the fat in other less important areas. That’s how you focus on what matters.
If you want to adopt this mentality towards content consumption, I recommend you conduct an honest assessment of everything you’re subscribed to (email lists, social media accounts, mobile app push notifications, podcasts, etc.). Be critical as to how much you believe you need the content, and ask yourself the following questions to help guide you through the process:
- Is X adding value to my life?
- Do I enjoy consuming X?
- If I stopped following X, how would I feel?
- How often do I actually consume X?
2. CREATE A SYSTEM.
Many of us spend our days reacting to the stuff happening around us, instead of being intentional. It’s so easy to write out a long to-do list but only get to a couple of things on it because you’re dealing with incoming email, hot requests, one-off conversations with colleagues, etc.
Few of us actually set aside the proper time each day to get the stuff we need to get done done. Those of us who do recognize the need to separate ourselves from the noise are able to focus on what’s important and execute against it.
I think this same approach can be applied to content consumption (as well as any other area in your life that needs improvement for that matter). What I’m really getting at here is setting aside the proper blocks of time when you can freely indulge in all the content you want and feel completely in charge.
For example:
- You can spend the first 5–10 minutes every day after you wake up checking your social media feeds.
- You can listen to a podcast during your commute.
- You can check your personal email in the coffee shop line.
- When lunch rolls around, you can set aside 20 minutes to read some articles you’ve bookmarked.
- After getting home from work, you can devote the first 30 minutes when you get home to reading a book.
The key is to batch your time effectively and be ruthless about not consuming content outside those time periods. I know it will be hard, but that’s how you’re going to fight it and come out on top. Try it and see what happens.
3. PRIORITIZE.
While it’s important to set aside the proper buckets of time for content consumption, it’s just as important to not blindly consume content during those periods. Even though you’ve already eliminated the content you don’t care about, you’re still likely going to have more than enough content to consume than the time you have allotted for it. That’s just the nature of being interested in a variety of things on the internet and wanting to be well-rounded.
Despite this predicament, it’s important to not just settle for what’s at the top of your inbox or social media feed. Instead, you should prioritize content across platforms and within them. In other words, you first need to rank the places you like best for receiving content, e.g. email vs. social media.
Once you do that, if possible, you should rank the type of content you receive in that medium in order from more enjoyable to consume to less enjoyable to consume. This might take some time as well as trial and error, but it will allow you to consume content efficiently and intentionally.
4. EMBRACE IMPERFECTION.
I’ve learned to let go of the notion that I’m going to consume every single piece of content I’m interested in. And you should too. At the end of the day, you have to do the best you can. No one does it 100% right, not even the people you look up to most. Striving to be better and more in control is what counts.
How do you deal with content overload? Any other tips?

