One of the great things about owning your own online business and getting to work from home is that you get to control your environment. You get to control what snacks are in the break room (a.k.a. your kitchen), you don’t have to label your lunch in the break room refrigerator (again, your kitchen), your office mates are generally always happy to see you (my dog, Britta) and you can control what is on the break room TV during lunch (family room).
In my former 9 to 5 job I had this terrible habit of always working through lunch. I rarely, if ever, took a break. And even when I did venture away from my desk to eat in the lunch room, by the nature of my job I was always on call and would always get a text, call or even a personal visit to my table from someone who needed my assistance. Yep, I never got a break.
Since I have operated my online business, I have made a concerted effort to take a break and get away during lunch time. That break can be anything from “flirty” chit chat with the cute lady in the other office area (my wife in the living room… I won’t tell HR if you won’t 😍) or catching the latest episode on a TV show I have been binge watching.
Lately, I have been watching reruns of all the Star Trek series shown over the years. Currently I am rewatching all of the Star Trek Voyager episodes. One episode I recently watched got me thinking.
It was the episode where the character, 7 of 9 (yes, that is her name, or designation as she refers to her identity), was downloading everything about the ship and the crew in her memory banks so she could be of better service to help them in their quest to get home (Episode 9 of Season 6 if you’d like to check it out for yourself).
This character is a former Borg and has the ability to download and retain this information because of the technology that was infused in her system by the Borg. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, or are not a Trekkie, don’t worry as I won’t go any deeper than that. 😉
In short, she downloaded way too much information and this large mass of data started to crossover and confuse her mind. This led to her be distracted and she started imagining things that were not true. The massive amount of information that she received became a huge source of misperception and she started to envision things that did not happen which almost led to a disaster.
Just because she had the ability to take on all the data that she was receiving, did not make wise.
While it was a very good episode, it was time for me to get back to work. I proceeded to work on my next project. But I got distracted by something that I saw on my screen and then a video I needed to eventually watch and never finished my intended work for the day.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
When you’re running an online business, it’s easy to think you can handle everything at once. Many tabs open on your browser, social media, analytics, email, training videos, spreadsheets and maybe even a video clip you’ve been “meaning to watch.”
You might convince yourself you’re being efficient, but in reality, your brain is jumping between so many tasks that nothing gets your full attention. It’s the digital version of 7 of 9’s overload. The data keeps coming, and instead of making you more effective, it slows you down and muddles your thinking.
This kind of overload doesn’t just waste time, it drains mental energy. Every time you switch tasks or shift focus, your brain uses extra resources to “reboot” and figure out where you left off. Multiply that by dozens of interruptions, and suddenly, hours have passed with nothing truly completed.
In the online business world, that can mean delayed projects, missed opportunities, and, worst of all, the creeping sense that you’re constantly “behind” even though you’ve been “busy” all day.
The reality is, you can’t download everything into your brain and expect perfect clarity. You have to choose what deserves your attention right now and deliberately shut out the rest.
That means not just organizing your to-do list but also controlling your environment, your inputs, and your focus so you can finish one thing before starting the next.
Here are 5 Steps to Avoid (or Escape) Information Overload
- Limit Open Tabs & Apps – Keep only the resources you need for your current task on your screen. Bookmark the rest for later.
- Schedule “Info Time” – Set aside specific times of day for reading emails, checking social media, or watching tutorials so they don’t bleed into your work priorities.
- Use a Single Priority List – Write down your top 3-5 tasks for the day and complete them in order. If something new (and not urgent) pops up, add it to tomorrow’s list, not today’s.
- Declutter Your Workspace – Clear away papers, notes, and devices you don’t need for the task at hand. A clear space often equals a clear mind.
- Take Strategic Breaks – Step away, move around, and reset your brain between deep work sessions. This keeps mental fatigue from making overload worse.
Running an online business is about more than just working hard, it’s about working smart. You’re not a Borg with unlimited storage and perfect recall (and honestly, even they have glitches as
I discovered in this episode). The more you try to process at once, the more likely you are to miss the important details or burn yourself out. Focus, finish, and then move on to the next thing. That’s how you keep your mind clear, your business running smoothly, and your sanity intact.
I think tomorrow for lunch I’ll turn off the TV and have a nice salad to feed my brain and maybe listen to some calming music. Nah, I’ve just got to find out how Captain Janeway gets them out of the mess caused by a clumsy crew member and a wayward alien. 😊
“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” – Henry David Thoreau
“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” – Winston Churchill
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
How many ears does Captain Kirk have? Three: a left ear, a right ear, and the Final Frontear.
Why did Captain Janeway start gardening? To boldly grow where no one has grown before.
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
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I think I will do better when I add dancing to my routine. I need another form of exercise, besides a 3-5 mile walk to keep the juices flowing and to keep my concentration on track! Trouble is, I get into a flow state and before I know it, I haven’t been moving. HELP!!
Hi Kate – I totally support this if it helps you declutter and clear your mind. Keeping the juices flowing, as you say, it’s so important and there are so many ways to accomplish this task. I’m glad you found a to keep things fresh and moving. Have an excellent week!
Hi Ernie,
Never thought 7of9 would make me rethink my workload! (that discussion is definitely for another time…)
I’ve also started using a timer so that I can “walk away” every hour for 10 minutes. My back has been sending me flowers every day – apart from the morning and evening stretching – that I take that 10 minutes away from the desk!
I think back on how many hours I could spend “working” and not taking a break…. no more of that craziness. Definitely a great message for everyone to read. Cheers!
Hi Marc – I find it so funny that I am taught lessons in the least expected places. Who knew that by taking a break and watching a silly Star Trek episode that I would think about how I spend my time and how I overload my brain with unnecessary material or at least material that can be prioritized. I like your idea of a timer to take breaks. In a former life, I used to be a professional presenter in my field and noticed that every 20 minutes the audience seemed to zone out. I would often provide a mental break for them without them knowing it by purposely messing up, telling an unrelated joke, interjecting a story or whatever to gain their attention back. This always worked! The point is we all need a break from time to time, and I need to listen to my own advice more. Thank you for your visit to my website and for your comments!
Hey Ernie! I agree with Kate about getting tuned into one thing, and before I know it the whole day has passed and I didn’t get everything done that I planned to. This post was really helpful because it’s a reminder that trying to juggle too much at once just slows us down. The tips you shared make it easier to stay focused and actually finish what matters most. Thanks for this, Ernie!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – I’m so glad this post added some value. Yes, I agree that we all need to be reminded about juggling too many things at once. I would admit that I am usually most guilty as I can’t tell myself and I need to remind myself to slow down and to focus. Thank you for your visit to my blog post as well as your comments. your support and engagement is very much appreciated!
Star Trek, the last frontier—”where the hand of mankind has never put the foot”.😁
I have to say thanks for the nice tips you are giving here. Just perfect for a guy like me who has only one hour of time on his business per day and that needs to be fully focused during this hour.
Hi Martin – I hear you! life is so busy, but I am glad you are able to carve out a few moments of your day to work on your business. From what I can tell by your content you are steadily taking control with you’re doing as it comes across as authentic and real. Thanks for your visit to my blog post and for your nice comments!