Are you suffering from Infomania?

Are you constantly interrupted by email? phone calls? instant messaging? If so you may be an infomaniac! Can you go an hour without checking your email or phone or feed reader? If not then you are suffering from Infomania!

Infomania is a growing problem in business and those who work at home are exceptionally vulnerable to it. Infomania is characterised by a distraction from duties by an urge to remain informed and up to date at all times resulting in information overload. The improvements in technology and the access to constant up to date information have made this a rising concern in the last twenty years but only in recent times since mobile technology has become more mainstream has Infomania really become a common problem.

Businesses are finding their productivity is taking a hit as technologies widely considered to be business aids are now causing as much harm as good. In 2007 – the year of Facebook, there was near constant mainstream media attention on people spending hours at work on social networking websites.

How can you protect yourself from Infomania?

1. Write a to do list and detail tasks which need to be achieved today.
2. Close all email clients, feed readers, instant messengers and web browsers for a pre defined time period which will be your productive time. In this time you must complete all tasks designated for this time period.
3. Take regular short breaks in which you check your emails etc.
4. Once your break is over, close all your distractions and have another productive hour.

Are you suffering from Infomania? How do you make sure your productivity is not suffering?