Digital Overload

Post date: Nov 21, 2015 1:23:19 AM

Blog Post for Nov. 20 -- Digital Overload

Digital overload image from terrapinn blog

The signs are everywhere:

  • · My drop box account alerts me that it is full and will not sync until I remove some files.
  • · My sister calls because she can no longer upload new pictures to her computer: I talk her through the steps and we rediscover she has filled up her hard drive with pictures and videos.
  • · Apple offers to switch my iCloud account to double the storage for about the same amount of money. I did it on the spot and watched my storage space DOUBLE instantly. (Who says you can’t buy happiness?)
  • · My students tease me whenever I bring up my Hawkeye Email-- you have a thousand unread messages??!! Yes, I subscribe to a lot of email newsletters!
  • · I added up my hours spent on canvas, and was then horrified—I’ve spent over 940 hours since the start of the semester and much of that was to create the five class websites, and then to upload new documents, tweak tests, and grade tests, worksheets, and other assignments.
  • · I set up a new Gmail account to use with my education students this fall, because I had used up almost all of the space in my Google Drive, even after deleting many shared files.
  • · I have several folders full of slips of paper w info on another account and password. I have lists of passwords needing to be added to my Last Pass account.
  • · I continually go in and delete files, old junk email and pictures that are blurry or redundant to free up space at home and work alike.

We are all living in the age of digital overload—we get too many texts, email messages, social media posts, tweets, pins, and alerts to read and respond to in any given day. We are wearing out the cloud, filling up our allotted space and needing more space. We can't keep up with the flow of information, entertainment, news, and cat videos.

The effects of digital overload leave us exhausted and overwhelmed. They distract us, delay us, and take our time and energy. Like the ancient Greek God who pushed a rock up the mountain only to have it roll back down, we end the day sometimes feeling triumph that we’ve checked certain tasks off the list, answered email, tweeted, texted, posted responses to a status update done early in the day—and just as we go to turn away from our PC or laptop or iPad or Smartphone, we realize there are new messages, new tweets, new texts, and all of our progress seems undone.

I found an article from 2014 that confirmed my sense that this is a universal problem, and not just mine. Visit the link below to see an amazing Infographic (“Data Never Sleeps”)

http://aci.info/2014/07/12/the-data-explosion-in-2014-minute-by-minute-infographic/

The Data Explosion in 2014 Minute by Minute – Infographic.

JULY 12, 2014BY SUSAN GUNELIUS

Image: Erik Fitzpatrick licensed CC BY 2.0

According to this article, every minute:

· Facebook users share nearly 2.5 million pieces of content.

· Twitter users tweet nearly 300,000 times.

· Instagram users post nearly 220,000 new photos.

· YouTube users upload 72 hours of new video content.

· Apple users download nearly 50,000 apps.

· Email users send over 200 million messages.

· Amazon generates over $80,000 in online sales.

I also found a wonderful quote by Richard Beasley on a blog post about Digital Overload: “If you are not careful, technology can actually increase your workload rather than increase your productivity.” Yes, I see this happening every day in my career as a Community College teacher!

What can we do?

· Lower our expectations! It’s okay to reflect before firing off an answer to an email or text. It’s not a speed test in High School typing class. (Youngsters, ask a Baby Boomer about “typing” classes).

· Set aside time each week—even half an hour—to go through and delete the glut of digital data that is clogging up our lives, PCS, and days.

· Set priorities for each day. My students and friends often comment on my “low tech” strategy of carrying a small clipboard with me to classes and meetings, but it helps me to keep on task as much as possible and make note of things I need to do.

· Get something done before you let yourself get sucked into social media early in the day, since that often turns into spending more time than we realize. Those cat videos, political rants, holiday recipes, and photos of the grandchildren can wait (well, at the least the photos of OTHER people’s grandchildren).

· TURN OFF ALL OF THE ALERTS that you can possibly handle on your smartphone, tablet, and laptop. We are barraged by the sounds of alerts and it is keeping us from focusing on the important tasks needing to be done. If you have a sick child, you may need to hear your text messages, but it is possible to program an astonishing array of alerts into the typical iPhone or Galaxy.

· Give yourself permission to unplug, even if only for an hour or two. No one can stay focused and mentally healthy while being hyper vigilant for new texts, emails, and status updates. Unless you’re in charge of the Situation Room at CNN or the White House, you can probably kick back and use Netflix to find out if the newest season of Broadchurch is finally available?

By the way, we spent an afternoon with my sister showing her how to back up her photos on the cloud (using Google photos) and ordering a few prints online from Walgreens, as well as copy pictures onto flash drives. She was excited to see that we freed up space on her hard drive!

Now, I just need to go through my own list of urgent tasks: free up space on Drop box, delete unneeded files, and go through the stack of passwords, figure out which accounts I’m still using, and get them recorded on Last pass (a wonderful program that helps you manage passwords).

How are you coping with Digital Overload? I’d love to hear your strategies.

Send them to Cherie Dargan, Geeky Grandma, @professorpost96@gmail.com

Side bar

http://blogs.terrapinn.com/total-learning/2013/10/27/digital-overload-leads-skills-amnesia/

Beasley, Richard. “Digital Overload Leads to Skills Amnesia.” (Article) Terrapinn blog. October 27, 2013

http://aci.info/2014/07/12/the-data-explosion-in-2014-minute-by-minute-infographic/

Gunelius, Susan. “The Data Explosion in 2014 Minute by Minute – Infographic. “

July 12, 2014. Infographic created by Erik Fitzpatrick.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus

Sisyphus

Last Updated November 20, 2015