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RANT: First Information Overload, Now It's Attention Overload

by Ron Douglas
22 replies
In a mindless daze of comfortable bad habit, I just completely wasted the last 90 minutes of my life. WOW that flew by quick and all I did was go back and forth checking Clickbank, checking Paypal, checking my bank accounts, checking email, checking the newsfeed on Facebook, chatting on Skype, checking sports scores on Yahoo, looking at sites I'm not going to buy on Flippa, checking my forums, checking Twitter etc.

I went to my computer with the intention of creating a video before I got too sleepy, but apparently I slipped into a deep trance caused by my lazy desire to fill the time with mindless activity. The result was I ultimately accomplished nothing.

I think one of the problems is that I have DSL and I'm always connected to the darn Internet. From now on I'm going to make it a habit to log-off the Net, pull the plug on the darn modem and finally get some work done. Get it in and get the hell out. I really don't want to sit here in front of the computer for this many hours. It's Friday night - I should be at the damn bar.

I hear people complain about information overload but I think Attention Overload is a much bigger problem.

Does this happen to you?

Fight Attention Overload - turn off the darn modem. I'm out.
#attention #information #overload #rant
  • Profile picture of the author winebuddy
    Focus Factor - if it's FREE - it must be GOOD!
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    "Knowledge is NOT power... ACTION on Knowledge is power"
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    • Profile picture of the author David McAnulty
      Originally Posted by winebuddy View Post

      Focus Factor - if it's FREE - it must be GOOD!

      I took Focus Factor! LOL I took the stuff for about 2 months. I can tell you something I truly do not remember if it worked or not
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      David

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      • Profile picture of the author RMC
        My ultimate battle.

        I got sh.. to do. A whole lot of it. However, lots of my friends and customers are here.

        I like to read, reply, but it's sometimes at a very high expense. My time is at a premium going rate.

        If my mind is not in 100% the right mood I quickly find myself here, and checking clickbank, aweber, etc.

        I all but left this place for years at a time. I have an original account under some name from eons ago. Just what is a busy man to do? I like reading, but it gets out of hand really quickly.

        I do find that writing a list out first miles away from my computer helps. But still slip..like right now.

        Dangerous stuff man. It's so easy to zombie out on these things. That's life you can't get back. Stay safe out there...zombies lots of em all around you everyday. You might just be one of them.
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  • Profile picture of the author The Leader
    Its easy to get addicted to the net posting comments and waiting for reactions to it. There is just too much to look at and it drives me nuts!
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  • Profile picture of the author freudianslip27
    I hear ya! Time sure can disappear on me sometimes. I think the worst thing is when I am actually working on a project and I still end up spinning my wheels for a while. Perhaps I'll log in to the warrior forum to get an idea of future video topics for my video series, but then i'll get sidetracked in threads and next thing you know it, an hour has slipped by!

    I've found that I work best when I have a list of goals I need to accomplish before the day is out, it keeps me moving forward.

    I also try to set aside "reward" time where I can just mess around on the net checking my non-business sites like star wars and video games

    Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author Desmond Ong
    Ron,

    You're not alone. I am a stat junkie and I stare at my AWeber accounts, ClickBank accounts and other accounts like crazy. LOL.

    Guess we're "busy" now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Ron...lol

    I can relate with you!

    We need to get out of here for a while and just shoot the **** over a few brews.

    Some times time away does more good than harm. You have to live life not
    just work it away,

    Time to your self and your Family can be a Healing Factor. We all need to
    make time for our selfs and loved ones,

    Go....Do what you must do....Live and be fruitful...You've earned it!

    Have a Great Weekend!
    Michael

    Originally Posted by Ron Douglas View Post

    In a mindless daze of comfortable bad habit, I just completely wasted the last 90 minutes of my life. WOW that flew by quick and all I did was go back and forth checking Clickbank, checking Paypal, checking my bank accounts, checking email, checking the newsfeed on Facebook, chatting on Skype, checking sports scores on Yahoo, looking at sites I'm not going to buy on Flippa, checking my forums, checking Twitter etc.

    I went to my computer with the intention of creating a video before I got too sleepy, but apparently I slipped into a deep trance caused by my lazy desire to fill the time with mindless activity. The result was I ultimately accomplished nothing.

    I think one of the problems is that I have DSL and I'm always connected to the darn Internet. From now on I'm going to make it a habit to log-off the Net, pull the plug on the darn modem and finally get some work done. Get it in and get the hell out. I really don't want to sit here in front of the computer for this many hours. It's Friday night - I should be at the damn bar.

    I hear people complain about information overload but I think Attention Overload is a much bigger problem.

    Does this happen to you?

    Fight Attention Overload - turn off the darn modem. I'm out.
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    • Profile picture of the author TommyBussey
      Haha great post man. I think that the majority of us can resonate with you. I am a habitual "refresher" haha Do any of you do this, too?

      You got about 20 different tabs open and scurry back and forth between Clickbank, Paypal, Aweber, Gmail, WF, Traffic Stats, Article Stats, etc. And just keep hitting the refresh button to see if anything has changed???

      I need to be more careful about this because the time I spend bouncing around really adds up quick!
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  • Profile picture of the author tecHead
    I do NOT have A.D.....ooo look at the pretty rabbit!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Ron - I call them "zombie hours".

      Usually later I realize I was trying to do more work and was just worked out for the day. So when I find a good site that leads to another site - or some good threads here - or stats to stare at ....I just go with it.

      I also have always-on broadband but I've learn to close my browser unless I need it for what I'm working on. Amazing how many times I don't need it for hours if it's not minimized in my toolbar staring at me.

      kay
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    • Profile picture of the author rapidscc
      Originally Posted by winebuddy View Post

      Focus Factor - if it's FREE - it must be GOOD!
      Just checked it out..does it really work..it's a pill..is it really as easy as taking medication?

      Originally Posted by Ron Douglas View Post

      In a mindless daze of comfortable bad habit, I just completely wasted the last 90 minutes of my life. WOW that flew by quick and all I did was go back and forth checking Clickbank, checking Paypal, checking my bank accounts, checking email, checking the newsfeed on Facebook, chatting on Skype, checking sports scores on Yahoo, looking at sites I'm not going to buy on Flippa, checking my forums, checking Twitter etc.

      I went to my computer with the intention of creating a video before I got too sleepy, but apparently I slipped into a deep trance caused by my lazy desire to fill the time with mindless activity. The result was I ultimately accomplished nothing.

      I think one of the problems is that I have DSL and I'm always connected to the darn Internet. From now on I'm going to make it a habit to log-off the Net, pull the plug on the darn modem and finally get some work done. Get it in and get the hell out. I really don't want to sit here in front of the computer for this many hours. It's Friday night - I should be at the damn bar.

      I hear people complain about information overload but I think Attention Overload is a much bigger problem.

      Does this happen to you?

      Fight Attention Overload - turn off the darn modem. I'm out.
      Yeah man, a lot of us seems to fall into this state of mindless activity and just surf to our hearts content, thinking that we have 24 hours connection in the internet anyway and can do work anytime...that's, Until we realize that we spend majority of our waking hours spinning our wheels and basically staying where we are..

      Originally Posted by David McAnulty View Post

      I took Focus Factor! LOL I took the stuff for about 2 months. I can tell you something I truly do not remember if it worked or not
      I guess that answers focus factor then..

      All the best

      Omar
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Deegan
    Use Firefox and the Leechblock plugin. Set it to block your time wasting web sites first thing in the morning or night before for a certain amount of time. Works great.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    I come and go with my "surf time".

    If I am busy and focused, I disappear for days... weeks...

    If I am not quite so focused, I consider it a form of semi-leisure activity that still has some minimal levels of productivity attached to it.
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  • Profile picture of the author JayXtreme
    I used to get this..

    But I learned to lock myself away for days on end in order to get projects finished, or simply to get them into momentum...

    It works a treat, but the family don't like it too much...lolz...

    Lock the doors, turn off the modem and let the power control you

    Peace

    Jay
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  • Profile picture of the author Suthan M
    You know Ron,

    I wanted to follow the same thing as you, but i encountered a major flaw..

    how are you going to take the videos if you're not connected to the net? I assume the video are most probably some instructions about some online websites (everyone here being an IMer), so that might not work.

    You most probably will go to the TV if you do that.. which is what i did :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Ron, I have (thank goodness) never had that problem.

      Maybe it's because I'm borderline obsessive compulsive but when I have a to
      do list in front of me (make one each night) I have to get it done.

      Now, these days, being semi retired, my to do list is very small. But still,
      first thing in the morning, in spite of the fact that I don't have to get up
      early anymore, I am up at 7 AM and usually have all my work done by 8 AM.

      A few times during the day, I'll check customer support emails (which are
      very few these days) to see if anybody needs to be taken care of.

      I don't know how people become this disciplined. I wasn't like this as a kid. I
      always put off my homework until the day before it was due. I was terrible.

      But as soon as I started a business online, I became fanatical about getting
      my work done.

      Go figure.
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  • Profile picture of the author KristieDean
    Originally Posted by Ron Douglas View Post

    In a mindless daze of comfortable bad habit, I just completely wasted the last 90 minutes of my life. WOW that flew by quick and all I did was go back and forth checking Clickbank, checking Paypal, checking my bank accounts, checking email, checking the newsfeed on Facebook, chatting on Skype, checking sports scores on Yahoo, looking at sites I'm not going to buy on Flippa, checking my forums, checking Twitter etc.

    I went to my computer with the intention of creating a video before I got too sleepy, but apparently I slipped into a deep trance caused by my lazy desire to fill the time with mindless activity. The result was I ultimately accomplished nothing.

    I think one of the problems is that I have DSL and I'm always connected to the darn Internet. From now on I'm going to make it a habit to log-off the Net, pull the plug on the darn modem and finally get some work done. Get it in and get the hell out. I really don't want to sit here in front of the computer for this many hours. It's Friday night - I should be at the damn bar.

    I hear people complain about information overload but I think Attention Overload is a much bigger problem.

    Does this happen to you?

    Fight Attention Overload - turn off the darn modem. I'm out.
    I understand how you feel! I've been there, done that. Sometimes it is even easy to justify - we do need to check emails, look at clickbank, etc., but I've wasted much time on that!
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  • Profile picture of the author MattSteel
    I make a daily "TO DO" List and commit to not veer off course until three, any three, items are accomplished. Usually, but not always, after completing three tasks, I am focussed enough to continue forward. I also build time into my day for checking email, accounts, and billing (3-4 pm). I do not answer the phone during this time and do not go over the allotted time frame. If I am not finished, the remainder waits until the next day. But no one is perfect. I, too, slip from time to time, but not often. Time is money, and my time is valuable. So is yours!
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Faber
    It's ironic, the more time you spend checking stats instead of being productive, the less reason there is to do so.
    Boy, did your post strike home!
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  • Profile picture of the author TimCastleman
    Ron -

    It happens to us all - I like to keep a timer and run it when I am online so when it goes off I get off the computer. Doesn't happen it all the time but it makes me aware of the money and time I am missing out on.

    Tim
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Douglas
    Feeling much better today. Pardon the rant lol.

    I'm going to make a point to be more efficient with the time I spend on the PC. Get it in and get out is my new motto.

    If I cut out the wasted time, I'll have lots of extra hours for more important things like playing with the kids and working out. I can get a lot more done in the same amount of time by cutting out the BS and just focusing on my 'to do' list.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Lenaghan
    Originally Posted by Ron Douglas View Post

    Does this happen to you?
    Almost verbatim to what you described - and it usually takes me 60 to 90 minutes to realize I'm doing it too.

    I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be though. If I sit down at the computer with a specific task in mind, as long as I get right to it I'm fine. As soon as I make the mistake of just checking "one thing" I inevitably wind up down some rathole or another.

    John
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