Information Overload and Action Paralysis

by hugh on October 7, 2008

How many times have you sat there knowing exactly what you need to do but can’t seem to actually get anything done? This happens to me and im sure it happens to you. The other day I was trying to create a mini site for a new niche and I could picture everything, I had the whole layout I had all the graphics I even had most of the copy, yet I just sat there and stared at the computer thinking “wtf am I doing?”

Action paralysis is when someone in his or her actions feels as if they are paralyzed. Information overload is when the amount of information is so huge making it almost impossible to absorb.

I guess it is kind of like writers block in a way, you know you are capable of it but you just cant get anything down. Why does it happen and  how do you overcome it? This, I am still trying to figure out. It happens to me quite a lot, enough for it to be extremely debilitating where some days i just cant get much done at all. That mini site will probably never get done now as i have just thrown together something to get it out there!

What needs to happen is to focus on one action at a time and sticking to it until it is done. I have a bad habit of taking on too much at once which is a massive problem as I just don’t know where to start, so I end up playing computer games much to my girlfriends lament hah!

Focus is definitely the number 1 key to success. You have to make use of the information you have and not to overload yourself with a whole lot more. If you have focus then you will see results.

Care to comment on your own experiences with this?

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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }

Henry Lewkowicz October 9, 2008 at 10:28 am

Hi,
As you say, “What needs to happen is to focus on one action at a time”… Focus is a powerful contextual filter that makes possible to zoom in on the most essential points.

With respect to effectively dealing with information overload I’m using our own product that instantly summarizes content to filter down the information to the bare minimum.

How it works. At a click of the button in a browser, Context Organizer instantly extracts the essence of documents – web pages, email, actually any text. Further, it presents the extracted topics in context of the text so the reader immediately understands the meaning of the piece.

Henry Lewkowiczs last blog post..Autumn Colors in Gatinaeu Park

admin October 9, 2008 at 10:56 am

Henry, that looks very interesting indeed. I might give it a trial!

Randi October 25, 2008 at 3:34 am

I have this all the time, and have wondered if it’s related to post-traumatic stress disorder. Or maybe a fear of criticism? Fear of commitment? Fear of consequences once the thing is done? I am all ears to anyone’s opinion because this is driving me nuts.

steve from Debt Settlement Companies February 20, 2009 at 9:18 am

God this plagues me all the time, I have a membership with a site that has a ton of great training and tools but sometimes it becomes overwhelming and I freeze up and do nothing.

steves last blog post..How are we going to right the economy?

admin February 20, 2009 at 9:25 am

yep it’s really frustrating. Ive started to keep a daily planner. if you can get into the habbit of setting aside time for certain things, then move on to the next it seems to help. i can get really sidetracked on something that is not really worth the time i put in. do you know the 20/80 rule?? 20% of the work you do will deliver 80% of the results. check this post http://theuniversitykid.com/how-to-increase-your-productivity-300/

Shout Cast Hosting and Streaming March 24, 2009 at 7:58 pm

Thank you, I really need to know this especially at this time. Hopefully I will be able to make more money from the help of you :D

Shout Cast Hosting and Streaming March 24, 2009 at 8:02 pm

Very nice information. This is the information that I’ve been looking for. I’ve been looking for this throughout the web however they are not as informative as this

john from Debt Settlement March 26, 2009 at 4:04 am

I think the best way to tackle IM is bit by bit so to avoid getting overloaded. In IM it is so easy get overwhelmed with all the information available and all the different methods in which you can actually make money. I used to spend hours racking my brain just to figure out which keywords to target, but now my process is much more refined and takes me way less time. I guess experience helps lol.

ForexMegaDroid April 21, 2009 at 1:43 am

It is obvious that you have put alot of effort into this! I thought I’d just leave a quick message saying good job!!

text message marketing October 12, 2010 at 9:12 pm

Action paralysis are happen in every different fields of the online business. Overload of information will surely cause too much trouble. It’s merely a fact that need to be solve. The flow of your earning is also slow. We had to find a better ideas to solve such problems.
Thanks for sharing this information. it will also a big help for the problems.
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logos October 26, 2010 at 5:36 pm

Thank you for sharing such a helpful piece of writing… It really represents your talent and hardworking. Keep up the great work :)
logos´s last blog ..MySpace plans to Unveil New Logo – Gives more ‘space’ to users!My ComLuv Profile

waqas from flights to Bangkok January 1, 2011 at 12:54 am

Awesome post, I am quite happy to find this post.thanks for sharing such a useful post dude.

waqas from cheap flights to accra January 3, 2011 at 9:09 pm

Overload of information will surely cause too much trouble. It’s merely a fact that need to be solve. The flow of your earning is also slow. We had to find a better ideas to solve such problems???would you like to explain this.

Kalsoom from flights to canada January 3, 2011 at 11:38 pm

Very interesting post.thank you very much for sharing.

Sajeela from Airk Air January 5, 2011 at 1:01 am

i have learn more than enough from this post thanks for sharing such a nice and informative post.

ppc leads January 6, 2011 at 11:40 am

I agree with admin. A list helps me keep track of things and tackle each item one at a time. Helps me be organize. Otherwise, I’ll just end up opening facebook and play games there.

waqas from Flights to Johannesburg January 6, 2011 at 11:03 pm

i am totally agree with you.thanks you very much for information.

kalsoom from flights to Miami January 6, 2011 at 11:29 pm

i am waiting to have some fresh and new post on this blog.because i have already got a lot of useful informations from this blog.

Hina from flights to Dhaka January 7, 2011 at 12:46 am

i also want to have answer of the question “you are capable of it but you just cant get anything down. Why does it happen and how do you overcome it”?? thanks for help.

Action Paralysis July 31, 2011 at 1:34 am

I’m just curious but how many tabs do you have open in your browser at any one time Hugh?

It seems for many people action paralysis happens as a result of getting stuck in an electronic OCD loop. It begins in the morning:

You check e-mail.
You check Facebook.
You check Twitter.
You check the news.
You check .

Then you start over.

It’s dangerous, step one in curing it is to become acutely aware of it.

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