There’s no shortage of readily available information in the world. With 100’s of TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines, and millions of websites, it’s no wonder that we’re overloaded with more facts, figures and other useless information than ever before. And with elections in full swing, it’s not only an overload, but an information avalanche.

Being overloaded with information is not a good thing. It’s counterproductive, stress-inducing and inefficient. It’s also an impediment to good decision making. But what can you do about it?

Go on an Information Diet.

If you wanted to lose weight, you would decide to not only limit the type of foods you eat, but the quantity as well. Dealing with information obesity is no different. It begins with making a decision to trim the information excess.

Start by asking yourself these questions:

1. What information do I need in order to grow, be entertained and informed?
2. Where will I get this information?
3. How much time do I want to spend consuming this information?

Once you have answers to these questions, you can set some goals and build a simple system for how information can serve you more efficiently. You control the source, the quantity and the quality of the information that you consume, so that you have the “diet” that makes you most successful.