{"id":35169,"date":"2016-07-14T11:30:59","date_gmt":"2016-07-14T15:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hhoupgrade.wpengine.com\/?p=35169"},"modified":"2025-01-29T21:08:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T02:08:45","slug":"information-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/information-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Disconnect from Information Anxiety?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There\u2019s no denying it\u2014we live in a world where information rules. Our phones, tablets, and laptops ping at us indiscriminately, whether to report on a worldwide disaster or simply to let us know our friend has posted on social media. We are glued to our screens, feeling panic if we cannot access the internet. Does this sound like you? You may be experiencing information anxiety.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Anxiety in the Modern World<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anxiety is the feeling you experience in response to a perceived threat or danger. This mechanism has helped us from an evolutionary perspective, enabling early humans to defend themselves against predator attacks. But in our modern society, where we are not likely to be attacked by a wild animal, anxiety can create reactions that debilitate rather than assist. Indeed, anxiety is now the most common mental health condition with<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adaa.org\/about-adaa\/press-room\/facts-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">18% of the population<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> experiencing it at some point in their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anxiety is triggered by fear of what might happen and a belief that it will be unpleasant. An unexpected bill, a presentation at work, or an important life event can all trigger anxiety. But in this information age, a new modern-day disorder is coming to the fore.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is Information Anxiety?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In simple terms, information anxiety is the feeling you get when you don\u2019t understand but think you should. The term was originally coined by the founder of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ted.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">TED Talks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Richard Saul Wurman, in his two cult guidebooks dedicated to<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/articles.latimes.com\/1989-01-22\/magazine\/tm-1044_1_information-anxiety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">understanding information anxiety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and its effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Information anxiety is caused by a variety of factors. Do any of these resonate with you?<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Feeling that you have to be \u201cin the know\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Not understanding information<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Not having access to information<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information to be understood<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Other people\u2019s expectations of what you should know<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Not knowing whether certain information exists<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Not knowing where to find information<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Today, we can find all the information we could ever dream of at the touch of a button, from scientific data revealing the mysteries of the universe to the minute details of our friends\u2019 personal lives. We are bombarded with information at every turn. We lug all our devices with us and frantically check them every minute. But does this make us more informed or just more anxious?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The word \u201cinformation\u201d is defined as \u201c<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the action of informing; formation or molding of the mind or character; instruction or teaching; communication of instructive knowledge<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Since World War II however, \u201cinformation\u201d has come to be used to describe anything that is sent over an electronic channel\u2014nowadays, the internet. These days, information is less something that informs and more something that is communicated or told, regardless of whether it is understood by the receiver. Just think of the sea of information published each day through emails, newspapers, online content, television, social platforms, etc. Do you feel you should understand it all? Does the thought of all this information make you feel uneasy or pressured?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>\u00a0<b>The Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This modern unease can manifest in many different ways. Take a look at the list below, and see if you relate to any of these symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Always feeling like you\u2019re not keeping up to date with world events<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Checking your smartphone or tablet at every opportunity<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Subscribing to several podcasts or magazines and feeling guilty as they pile up, unplayed or unread<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being too embarrassed to say \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8220;Uh-huh&#8221;-ing or nodding knowingly when someone mentions a term, name, or event you know nothing about<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Believing others understand things you don\u2019t or know more than you do<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compulsively checking the latest news even when it has no effect on your life<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Having profiles on several social media platforms and feeling compelled to post or check on them several times a day<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feeling on edge when you don\u2019t have an internet connection<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feeling \u201cdisconnected\u201d when you haven\u2019t checked your phone, tablet or laptop for half an hour<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spending most of your free time in front of a screen<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If this is you, you\u2019re not alone! A cursory glance around any train or waiting room finds many people completely immersed in their smartphones, oblivious to the world at large. But, if you\u2019re feeling compelled to check your devices at every opportunity and feel they are taking over your life, I have some good news: You can step away from the screen and reduce your information anxiety in just a few simple steps.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Disconnect from Information Anxiety<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Let\u2019s face it: The Information Age is here to stay with more media channels to explore each day. Rather than spending an increasingly large chunk of your day trying to keep up, you can take control of your information anxiety and learn to interact with information in a healthier way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By identifying the information you really want and need in your life, you can let go of the rest and release the need to be constantly connected. As with other anxiety disorders, the first step is awareness followed by acceptance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1. Accept that you don\u2019t and can\u2019t know everything\u2014and know that it\u2019s OK. Let this spark your curiosity rather than crippling you with fear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. If there are certain terms that fill you with dread because you simply don\u2019t understand them (like the Dow Jones, for example), make a list, and learn what they are, one by one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3. Plan for the information you really need:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is essential for your work?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What really interests you?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What do you like to talk about?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Which topics do you have a passion for?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4. Turn off the automatic notifications on your smartphone so that you aren\u2019t constantly being drawn in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5. Dedicate a set time during the day for checking emails, looking at social media, listening to podcasts or reading magazines. Set yourself a time limit; if you\u2019re currently spending three hours a night immersed in a screen, cut it down by half or more, and spend the rest of the time doing something else\u2014having a bath, meeting friends, taking a walk, or trying a new hobby.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6. Spend more time outside. This provides a double benefit. First, it takes you away from the screen, and second, it provides you with the vitamin D so essential to both<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/depression\/news\/20120110\/low-levels-vitamin-d-may-be-linked-depression#1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">physical and mental health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">7. Turn off your devices at night. Switch off your phone, put away your laptop, and turn away from the television. The blue light from their screens can disrupt sleep, and poor sleep is linked to anxiety.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Accepting that you can\u2019t know everything will have an instant effect on your information anxiety. You will feel much more at ease with not knowing everything. Detach from the need to know, and engage with your curiosity outside of the screen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With some gentle awareness, you can learn to detach from 24\/7 connectivity, embrace not knowing, and live more in tune with the now.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do you experience information anxiety? How does it manifest in your life? Can you share any tips for stepping away from the screens? We\u2019d love to hear your thoughts on the topic, so feel free to drop us a line in the comments section!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s no denying it\u2014we live in a world where information rules. Our phones, tablets, and laptops ping at us indiscriminately, whether to report on a worldwide disaster or simply to let us know our friend has posted on social media. We are glued to our screens, feeling panic if we cannot access the internet. Does [&#8230;]\n","protected":false},"author":60581,"featured_media":35171,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[168],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anxiety"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60581"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyhempoil.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}