The Effects of Information Overload on the Brain 

The brain is one of the most powerful organs in our body. It’s instrumental to the proper function of our other organs and systems and our thinking, movement, emotions, and information processing. But even with its infinite capabilities, the brain has its limits. When it tries to process too much information, it can lead to something called cognitive overload. When you experience information overload, the effects on the brain can negatively affect how you function. Understanding your brain’s limits ensures we can easily manage our mental well-being and know when to take some time out.  Read below to discover why information overload is a problem that, if left unaddressed, can cause long-term stress and worry. Uplevel your daily routine with Yootropics and make life manageable. 

What causes information overload? 

Both internal and external factors cause cognitive overload. Internally, the information we have in our brains, whether the stock knowledge we have from our learnings or our memories, can overflow when we’re storing too much. Couple that with the various external information we receive daily, and we can get easily overwhelmed with too much information. This is especially the case now more than ever, as we are constantly being marketed to and shown information in many ways - from social media to television, to family and friends, and even working and surfing the web online. There are many more possibilities of overload with so much information constantly swirling around us. 

You might ask, “Why is too much data stressing us out if the brain is so complex?” Studies have shown that our brain constantly seeks brand-new information - and because so much new information is constantly being distributed to us, it gets too much for our brains to manage. As the brain becomes overworked, our cortisol levels increase - this is also known as the stress hormone. This leads to more daily stress as well as confusion and even memory loss in some cases. 

How does information overload affect the brain? 

As mentioned, information overload increases our stress levels to potentially unhealthy levels. But beyond that, what are the other disadvantages of information overload?  An OpenText survey found that 87% of the respondents felt that information overload contributes to their daily stress. Furthermore, the overwhelming number of info sources and the perceived overload from this negatively affect employees' work performance. This shows how bad information overload can be, not just on our mental health but also on our daily tasks at work. 

As for the possible ways our brain can respond to information overload, the Mayo Clinic classifies our reactions to overload into four types: 

• Paralysis - The inability to deal with more complex topics beyond your capabilities. 
• Anger - The feeling of frustration when brand new information challenges your beliefs. 
• Passivity - The state of being passive and following someone’s lead to avoid overwhelming oneself with new information. 
• Understanding - Processing new information thoroughly through gathering knowledge from reputable sources. 

Ideally, the last reaction is the one we want to achieve, as we want to be able to receive new information without any qualms or issues. But how can we do so if we don’t know how to manage cognitive overload? 

How do you manage cognitive overload? 

There are many ways to manage cognitive overload healthily. For starters, you can set an information limit and set aside time for consuming information. Hone your mental filter to know which information is vital to store and which is negligible. Beyond that, make sure to find time to relax and unwind as well with as little information consumption as possible. That way, you won’t feel too overwhelmed, and your mind can feel at rest during this time.  Another way to manage overload is to take effective, natural nootropics for focus and concentration. This way, you can zero in on the essential topics rather than be overwhelmed by so many at once - and our FOCUS nootropics are formulated to help you do just that. Designed to enhance focus, stress response, and mental stamina, taking 2 capsules daily can help your brain focus on one piece of information at a time, as well as help improve your brain’s response to information overload. 

Prevent overload with healthy information consumption habits and the best nootropic formulations! Check out our nootropic collection here at Yootropics and get the right cognitive products to help you against information overload and other mental and cognition issues. 

Love your brain, 

The Yootropics™ Team