Information Overload
We’re living in a world where limitless information is at our fingertips within seconds. We skim, scroll, click, and share more than ever before. Yet how much of what we take in actually stays with us?
The other day I was telling my uncle about an article I’d read on the vibrant autumn colours we’re expecting in the UK this year. He asked me a simple question: “Why is it different this year?”
And I froze.
I couldn’t remember. I had read the words, even thought “that’s interesting”… but the actual detail? Gone.
It made me pause. How much information do we let wash over us every day- emails, WhatsApp, meetings, social media- without ever truly absorbing it?
The Neuroscience of Too Much
Our brains were never designed for this volume of input. Working memory, the part of our brain that temporarily holds and processes information, can juggle only about 4±1 chunks at a time. When the stream of data keeps flowing, the brain can’t hold it all, so details slip away.
Here is an example: when we’re scrolling through videos, if we stop to think, we most likely won’t remember the last five videos we watched. Why? Because we moved through each one so fast, and we didn’t give our brains time to encode those moments into longer-term memory. And this is how social media has been designed- to keep our attention bouncing from one video to the next, and none anchored for us to remember.
But this isn’t just about memory. Constant input raises cortisol, our stress hormone, and scatters attention. We think we’re multitasking, but really, the brain is just rapidly switching focus which is an energy-expensive process that leaves us drained and less able to encode what matters.
In other words: the more we consume, the less we retain.
5 Ways to be Intentional with Information
- Choose your Inputs
Think of information like food: a diet of fast, empty calories won’t nourish you. Curate your inbox, news, and social media so you’re feeding your brain quality, not just quantity. - Pause to Process
After you read, watch, or listen to something, take 60 seconds to ask yourself: What’s the key point here? Repeating it in your own words helps consolidate memory. And yes- do this out-loud, not in your head! - We Don’t Have to Consume Everything
You don’t need to read every article or look up every curiosity. Ask yourself: Do I really want or need to know this?
For example: looking up the cost of something you have no intention of buying, or checking every minor detail of news that won’t change your work or life. These feel harmless, but they silently contribute to mental noise. - Create Rest Stops
Give your brain time without new input- a short walk, a few minutes of breathing, or a screen-free meal. This downtime allows your neural networks to consolidate ideas, strengthening learning and information recall. - Write it Down
Our brains aren’t meant to store everything. When you externalise information- it lightens cognitive load and gives you a reference. If something matters- an insight, a quote or something you want to remember- write it down! I know you have an empty notebook somewhere.
Coaching Reflections
This week, I’m asking myself:
Do I want to keep scrolling, or do I want to remember?
What would shift if you absorbed less but remembered more?
By the way: the reason why the autumn colours will be brighter this year is because we had a hot and long summer, which helped trees produce more sugar in their leaves, sugars that intensify the red, orange and yellow hues.
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