Since the pandemic, most of us have been experiencing remote or hybrid ways of operation. Research tells us the majority of the employees do not want to come back to the office full-time and prefer some degree of flexibility, and as such the digital world has become a fully integrated part of our jobs. Communication platforms such as Zoom, Slack, or Miro are now a natural part of our business day. While digital tools have been primarily invented to enhance our collaboration, without regular checks and conscious intention, our digital temperature may rise to dangerous overload levels.

As with every fever, the impact of an elevated digital temperature (feeling digitally overloaded) is significant. It starts with decreased focus and processing information ineffectively, then turns into increased fatigue, and loss of control, potentially resulting in psychological stress or even depression.

Digital overload definition is a state where we feel overwhelmed by the number of messages, notifications, channels, devices, instruments, and other digital technologies we work with.

"Digital overload" is the term used to describe the feeling of being constantly overloaded by electronic stimuli.

Our daily activities – sending emails, meetings, chat channels, and general business communication are triggers for emotional responses that raise your digital overload temperature.  

Have these things happened to you? You…

Reflect on your answers. Then, plot yourself on the Digital Temperature Scale based on how you feel right now. If you think that you are in digital overload, then this article will show you how to skill up in our digital world to find your personal balance, increase efficiency, and blitz your effectiveness.

Let’s explore two perspectives. Leaders and team members can employ different tactics to decrease digital overload.

1. Consider the Communication Preferences of Your Colleagues

For leaders and team members, communication is an important foundation to developing strong relationships with employees. But, how do you know what is the right level of communication, how do you know who is taking things in? Here are some ways to consider the communication preferences of your colleagues, who may have different communication styles.

Some colleagues may prefer a phone call instead of a Zoom meeting, others may be in favor of chat messages. People take in information differently. If you prefer sending an e-mail, it does not mean your colleague will be guaranteed to read it. Or maybe they just skim through, missing the important points. This may result in playing email ping pong – which is a sure way to increase your digital overload temperature. When you find yourself playing this game, its time to skill-up and change your communication track.

Not everyone communicates the same way as you. The extra helpful tools of your Inner Genius will unlock your Expert Zone and accomplish what needs to be done in a quicker and more pleasant and productive way.

2. Set Your Personal Boundaries

No official guideline will help you unless you have set your own rules and stick to them.

It is a great mental exercise to ask people to “draw” their personal boundaries around them. Considering what’s inside and outside each team member’s personal boundary is an insightful learning experience and even more powerful when shared with other teammates. Often, a profound ‘aha moment’ follows when people realize how close they had drawn the borders around them. Here’s some tips to set your personal boundaries without offending other team members and remaining productive and efficient:

• Escape to Calm - Allocate Regular Slots For Focused Work In Your Calendar

. Switch off notifications during this time. The more you turn notifications off, the better. Your phone buzzes, you get a notification, and you drug yourself into another hour of mindless browsing. Then, up goes your digital overload temperature. Not just for work, but for life in general. It's a trap! If you want to break out of the cycle, make a plan. Whether it's scheduling a focused time in your calendar or turning the notifications off, get into your Expert Zone and Power-Up. Start with 30 minutes, then build up from there. And, watch your digital overload temperature level out!

• Check Yourself – Do You Really Need To Reply Immediately?

 What are the consequences of sending out too many messages in a day? A lot of people do their best to respond to every message, but then it becomes stress-inducing. Don’t feel like you have to respond immediately. Take a few minutes to breath, have a drink and make sure that you are really focusing on your message. Don’t use response speed as a signal for your hard work, to be “always on” is not the way to success.

• Don’t be afraid to say a reasonable NO. 

Asking someone to take on an assignment or asking for advice can be very difficult and overwhelming. Many people have this fear of rejection, and it crushes their motivation to ask for help. Saying NO isn't always a bad thing. Saying NO is an important part of being a good leader and colleague. The first step in managing is knowing what is possible for you, and then using that knowledge to set priorities and make decisions. Saying NO is a powerful tool, but it is vital you only use it when necessary and if you genuinely have a valid reason.

3. Be Ready And Present For The Meetings, Allow Recharge Time

It is very demotivating and exhausting to spend useless time in online meetings which might spike your digital overload temperature. Do not accept one meeting after another with no break in between. Be prepared and present to save everyone’s time.

Most of the times, it is not easy to decipher, what is the way your team members take in and process information. For instance, in virtual meetings, you often communicate to a group of people, you don’t know how they like to communicate, or even more challenging, you do not know them at all. Thus, your message may not be perceived the way you intended to, causing extra effort and time investment on behalf of all involved parties.