Your Information Is Everywhere. So Why Can’t You Find It?

A Brief History of Digital Information Overload:
Why it’s a problem and what you can do about it.

Information overload and disorganization

We’re all familiar with information fatigue, especially at the office. There are emails, text messages, messenger applications, social media, web research, files, etc. We’re reading, listening to podcasts, watching videos, sometimes all on the same day and sometimes we’re not even in control of the information sent to us, it’s too much—it’s information overload.

Did you know there’s an Information Overload Day? Yes, this is such a widespread problem they designated a day of respite from it. On October 20th, you can officially take a break from social media, text messages, the news, and general web research.

But, how did information overload lead to workplace disorganization?

The digital transformation happened without much of a plan, leading to lots of apps and point solutions. We adapted and started using so many of them. For instance, you might use Slack as your workplace communication tool. Then, to be polite, you download Google Chat to talk to an outside consulting agency because that’s their tool. You contribute to both, even copying messages from one to the other.

And then there’s link and file sharing. Maybe you have documents on Google docs, and others shared on Dropbox or Box. If you’re like most, you have dozens of browser tabs open at any given time, with email messages, project research, social media, and industry articles. You’d like to close many of them, but don’t because you might not be able to find them again later.

With files and information coming from everywhere, when it’s time to work on a given task, we typically spend copious amounts of time looking for and gathering all the data we need. Walk away from it and return to it days later, and you have to search for the information all over again.

With all the information we’re collecting, the most common complaint is that we can’t find it. Your information is everywhere and should be easier to find, but it’s not.

The way we work digitally isn’t working and is terrible for productivity. Here’s why.

The digital world is disorganized

How we work online grew organically. Initially, we didn’t have cognitive scientists designing how our desktops and apps should work together. Perhaps there would be a better solution than managing countless browser tabs if we did.

If you google “digitally disorganized,” you’ll get all sorts of suggestions, like creating more folders, lots of folders, and closing browser tabs more often. But our brains simply aren’t wired that way. Those suggestions aren’t helpful.

The reality is the digital world isn’t changing, and we’re resigned to how it all works together. However, there are tremendous benefits to solving this disorganization problem.

The McKinsey Global Institute reports that creating a searchable record of knowledge can reduce the time spent searching for information by up to 35%. And according to IDC data, the need to duplicate mismanaged content costs companies $5 million a year on average.

Disorganization is detrimental

Disorganization in the digital world is as frustrating and unproductive as in the physical world. Think about it. It’s just as frustrating not being able to locate a file on your computer as losing your keys when you have to get somewhere fast.

A cluttered computer creates as much anxiety and stress as physical clutter. Conversely, getting organized in the digital world and being able to find files and information will make you:

• Feel in control of projects
• More focused on work goals
• Better able to manage deadlines

Information overload is abated by canceling out the distractions when searching the many apps where messages, files, and unstructured data reside, creating a great workspace. And research shows that compelling workplace experiences generate 22 percent higher engaged employees who are 4x as likely to stay in their jobs. And collaboration thrives.

However, we’re busy working on projects, researching, and collaborating on so many different tools it seems impossible to get it together. That is, until now.

The Tabjay difference—a new way of working

Tabjay is a solution our brains are wired to understand and use. It’s designed based on how we work.

Imagine all your information being accessible from one place. No, Tabjay doesn’t ask you to move any files or data, or to change the applications you use. That would just add more disorganization.

In Tabjay, you create a workspace for whatever you’re working on. Then add links to the information you need to get it done. Links can point to documents, presentations, web pages, videos, or anything on the internet. If you walk away, no problem. The next time you need it, all your information is right there. And when you pivot to something new, you simply switch to the relevant workspace. Doesn’t that sound like a path to lowering your information-overload stress level?

Get Tabjay and experience digital organization like never before.