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posted by n1 on Saturday November 28 2015, @07:03AM   Printer-friendly
from the contexuallyirrelevantrelativeintepretationsofconceptualpsychologicaleconomicscientificpropaganda dept.

New research from analysts at ESRI UK has found that a third of us feel stressed due to the increasing amount of digital information we are expected to consume, make sense of, and act on, in our day to day lives.

Many of us can probably relate to the stress of having to prepare for exams by "cramming" as much information into our heads as we can. But increasingly we are being expected to "cram" every day, with information fired at us by emails, phone conversations, videos, news broadcasts and social media. As a trivial example – there's no longer an excuse to forget Aunt June's birthday when she knows full well everyone will get a reminder via Facebook FB -0.95%!

Now science has stepped forward with an explanation. The human brain thrives on novelty and is driven to constantly seek it. When novelty is available in effectively unlimited quantity, the brain becomes overworked as it tries to process this information while driving itself on to search for more. This leads to increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to confusion, memory loss and a state of restlessness.

The study of 1,000 Brits found that over a third (35%) feel that having to keep up with today's "information overload" leaves them feeling stressed out, unable to relax and anxious. Two thirds (65%) say that the need to keep track of a great deal of information is a "major concern" in their lives.

Others might cite major sources of stress as scope creep and compressed timelines, but YMMV.


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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 28 2015, @11:25AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 28 2015, @11:25AM (#269061)

    Bestest solution, and it's even better because it's automatic, is to get old. When you're old, you don't give a fuck.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 28 2015, @01:46PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 28 2015, @01:46PM (#269096)

    When you're old, you don't give a fuck.

    Neither do I.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 28 2015, @02:34PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 28 2015, @02:34PM (#269110)

      Like I give a fuck what you do.