Information Overload and Not Enough Time?? Me too!

Does anyone else suffer from information overload??? Or ever feel like they are ALL things to ALL people ALL of the time??? Well, that’s the mental space I find myself in today. Part of it probably has to do with my being out sick 2 days last week, although I can definitely think of other instances where I have found myself feeling exactly this way during weeks when I am not out sick. As a matter of fact, I am rarely sick. I can count my sick days from last year on one hand and still have a couple of fingers to spare. Well, enough of my ranting…and thanks for listening with a sympathetic ear. I have a funny feeling I am probably not alone in this.

I have another hunch that the Internet and technology has been partly to blame for this situation. Being able to use the Internet quickly and efficiently has made me very good at my job. I am able to navigate and find what I need quickly. It makes me appear to have all the answers at my fingertips whenever anyone needs anything. However, in my case this wonderful technology appears to be a double edged sword — at least for me. The words “setting boundaries” spring to mind in my own case. But enough of that.

Let’s go back to the wonderful world of technology…and the program NetVibes. I first read about NetVibes in our required weekly readings (TechCrunch.com) and later heard Erika Shen rave about it in class. It is my latest addiction and something I can no longer live without. I spent several hours today setting up a number of different tabs and then adding all of our class information and the various blogs we should be reading on individualized tabs. I also put everyone’s blogs on a page so I can get to those without having to log into our Wiki. This is going to be such a timesaver to have all of this information pre-programmed. I am really excited about this! If I had the time, I’d do a dorky YouTube video complete with sappy music extolling the virtues of the program. This is probably the one instance where everyone is glad (and relieved) to hear I am simply to busy to undertake such a project.

I have a demanding full time job and finding the time to do all the readings and assignments required for this class has been a definite challenge for me. Based on conversations with some of you, I have to believe you may also share in this struggle. Unlike other graduate classes that simply ask you to read, participate in class and write a paper or two, I find this class to be much more intensive in terms of time requirements. I think part of the reason for this is that I find myself exploring new technologies that I am unfamiliar with and that takes extra time — to learn , to understand, and at times, to try and gain some proficiency. Just learning to get around in Second Life took a few intensive night and weekend sessions - and I would still not claim any proficiency other than “basic.” Add to that, the exploration of the various new technologies I might come across in our tech newsletter readings, or the social networking involvement that I am not ordinarily as committed to, and the reading of other classmates blogs, the regular classroom reading assignments, the module papers and the writing of our own blogs, and I find that my time gets taken up in a number of activities - all valuable - but all requiring a substantial time commitment.

Anyway, discovering a valuable program such as NetVibes that empowers me in ways that allow me to reclaim some of my time makes it worth it! And for that, Comm 534 and Erika Shen, I can’t thank you enough!