Here's my problem, and it's hardly unique to me. I am drowning in information. I know, Welcome to your world, right? I am something of a news and information junkie anyway. I subscribe to two newspapers and eighteen blogs, belong to six art organizations that each produce newsletters, get four fiber art journals, and listen to public radio. Also I'm a sucker for books. (I call it "research.") And then of course there's email. Sigh. I know none of this makes me unique, and clearly some of it is self-inflicted.
(I know, I know, my own blog contributes to the flood of information. Thank you for choosing to read it when you have so many other stories demanding your attention!
But it's Facebook that has pushed me over the edge. So many stories, links, images! So much to learn! Too much! My head is full and my mental energy is heading off in a thousand directions, away from the creative work I'm supposed to be all about.
Being the overly analytical type, I spent a good hour this morning trying to figure out how to
This is as boring to look at as it was to do:
So far I've decided that for information about art, fiber art, and tapestry, Instagram, Facebook, blogs, and newsletters from membership org's are my most timely and valuable sources of news and information. I will try to free myself from reading cover to cover every fiber magazine or book that crosses my path. For administering my business, timely reading and response to email is key--but I can try to check it and respond only a few times a day. Blogs, newsletters and discussion lists also improve my business, so I have to keep up with them. I will give up on reading the actual newspaper (except for weekend art and books coverage) and get my news from the radio. I will limit to two or three the number of times each day I check Facebook and Instagram. And I am ruthlessly unsubscribing from the email ads, newsletters and Facebook feeds that don't improve my practice, my understanding, my social circle or my mood!
I'm curious to hear how you cope with this dilemma. I'm sure you have some great ideas I haven't thought of. Please share your own strategy below.
Molly, I am chuckling at this one. You are so much like me in this regard (and probably in others). I have had this struggle forever and in the last year or so have come to this. I just trust that what I need to see will come to me. That is it. If I buy a new book and don't read it for years, that is fine. If I go to the library and take home a stack of inspiring reads but never open one of them and have to return them. That is fine. I do find that often when I'm doing "research" on something I already have a reference on my shelf and that is a good day! It was there when I needed it. What you need to see will be what shows up in your FB timeline or on your IG feed or in your email inbox. (I have no idea if this is actually true, but it is the only way I can deal with the flood of information. I tried for a long time to sift through all of it and it made me a crazy woman. So now I just think about what I see that grabs my attention and ignore the rest. Sometimes, shockingly, that means that I am reading Outside magazine instead of the American Craft or Fiber Art Now. Sacrilege.)
ReplyDeleteRebecca, it is so encouraging to know that I'm not alone in this, and unbelievably freeing to have "permission" to let it all go. Trusting that what I need to see or hear about, I will. And remembering to check my own bookshelves first! Phew. thank you! . . . Outside Magazine, hmmm
Delete;)