Too much information (TMI) and not enough time can be a harsh cocktail. If you’re like me then you have a real life job to work at too. So how do you manage your time effectively when dealing with all the information that flows on a daily basis?

On a previous venture into blogging I made the mistake of trying to follow everything. I’d obtained an exported OPML for my RSS reader containing hundreds of feeds and signed up to all the hot social sites. It was too much and I found myself turned away rather than inspired to continue. 

This time around I’m taking it slower. Instead of someone else’s OPML file I’m building my own RSS subscriptions in the areas that interest me alone. Much less clutter. I can follow a couple dozen blogs better than a couple hundred. Same thing with social sites. I’m following/friending fewer people this time also.

Don’t get me wrong. I doubt things will remain this light as I continue on. I may end up at those several hundred feeds and many friends at some point anyway, but at least it will be a silent progression rather than a cacophony hitting me all at once. Perhaps the future will allow more time to handle the load.

I guess the point here is ease yourself in. There’s nothing worse than sitting there at 4:30am with an unfinished post and having to work at 8am. Why did you stay up all night sidetracked from what you set out to do?

Stay focused. Less can actually mean more in the long run. (You are in this for the long run, right? )