Information overload may have started with 24/7 news channels, but where it ends is more a matter of intervention than invention. One thing is certain: Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Drowning in facts, figures, news, opinion, and conjecture can lead to decision paralysis and mental exhaustion.
We asked members of the Fast Company Impact Council how they stay informed without getting overwhelmed. These tips from 19 of them may help you sift the signals from the noise, leaving headspace for what matters.
1. CURATE TRUSTED SIGNALS
I curate ruthlessly. I build my day around a handful of trusted signals instead of an endless feed. Years ago, I even launched a morning roundup of the 10 stories that actually mattered so lawmakers could be current by 10 a.m. Today, I publish a newsletter for 30,000 readers, which forces me to constantly separate noise from what’s genuinely consequential. My advice: Choose a few sources you trust, set a fixed time to consume them, and give yourself permission to ignore the rest. — Howard Franklin, Ohio River South
2. KEEP A FIXED WEEKLY CADENCE
I read primary sources on a fixed weekly cadence (papers, filings, regulator statements) and mostly skip the commentary about them. My filter is convergence, not volume: When a central bank, a research lab, and a CEO on an earnings call independently flag the same risk in the same quarter, that’s signal. One loud take from anyone is noise I let pass. — Usman Khan, ADP
3. USE AI AS A FILTER
I use artificial intelligence to help distinguish signal from noise in the news. I treat it as a guide and coach, not gospel. When I know my audience, I ask for timely insights I can weave naturally into a conversation, rather than drowning in information. — Jacqui Canney, ServiceNow
4. SLOW DOWN TO HELP OTHERS CATCH UP
Staying informed and driving innovation is the best part of the job. What can be overwhelming is bringing everyone along for the journey or educating others as things change so rapidly. I find that slowing down to provide demos or office hours allows others to keep pace and helps drive even more innovation alongside me. — Tigran Sloyan, CodeSignal
5. CARVE OUT INTENTIONAL TIME
I used to think my value was working the hardest, answering every email, and staying on top of everything. I was inbox zero, always on. That mindset was stealing from my best work. Staying tactical all the time doesn’t leave headspace to think strategically. Now I carve out intentional blocks of time, no email, no firefighting, with a specific narrow goal for that block. The same goes for what I read. I’d rather reread one good book or article 10 times and actually put it into practice than skim through 10 new ones. Depth beats breadth. — Blake Brannon, OneTrust
6. FOCUS ON ROOT ISSUES
The amount of available information is nearly infinite, so trying to consume everything is a losing strategy. One lesson I’ve learned in senior leadership is that my value isn’t knowing everything. It’s recognizing what matters, when to engage, and when not to. That doesn’t mean avoiding depth. The best insights come from employees, customers, and the market. I focus on understanding root causes, not just solving the issue in front of me, because that’s what reveals whether something needs to change in our strategy, priorities, or execution. — Steve Holdridge, Dayforce
7. TAKE TIME TO STEP BACK
I’m intentional about what I read and listen to, focusing on content that not only keeps me informed but also motivates my work. I also make a point to step back, whether that’s a quick walk outside or a longer coffee break. Those breaks give me the space to return with a clearer perspective and a better focus on what really matters. — Grace Keith Rodriguez, Caliber Corporate Advisers
8. DEVELOP CLEAR, DIRECT, CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION
Too many organizations build complexity over time without questioning whether it’s actually serving anyone. Layers of approval, redundant check-ins, and communication that passes through too many hands before it reaches the people who need it. All of it slows you down and creates noise. When you strip complexity back and replace it with direct, transparent, continuous communication, trust fills the space. And trust accelerates everything. When people know exactly where things stand and why decisions are being made, you stop managing around the work and start doing it. Simplicity is a leadership choice as much as an operational one. — Meredith Rosenberg, NU Advisory Partners
9. PRIORITIZE TRUSTED SOURCES
I’ve learned that staying informed doesn’t require consuming everything. It requires being intentional about what deserves my attention. I prioritize trusted sources, seek diverse perspectives, and spend as much time listening to people as I do reading reports. Most importantly, I create space to think. Information alone doesn’t make better leaders. Reflection, discernment, and asking better questions turn information into wisdom and action. — Jean Accius, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities
10. USE SHORT CHECK-IN PERIODS DURING THE DAY
To stay on top of industry news and trends, I carve out short check-in periods three times per day. I review relevant news outlets and websites for 10 to 15 minutes before starting my workday, at lunch, and as I wrap up my workday. Maintaining those limits helps me avoid rabbit holes and keeps me from getting overwhelmed. My subconscious noodles on what I learn in those sessions to support my creative process. — Brad Weber, InspiringApps
11. FOCUS ON FIERCE PRIORITIZATION
Staying informed doesn’t mean knowing everything. It’s the same lesson I apply with my kids: fierce prioritization. I can’t be there for everything, but on the things that matter most, I show up, and I go deeper. And I lean on trusted advisers, so I can separate signal from noise and show up fully where it counts. — Michele Walsh, UNICEF USA
12. BUILD IN PATTERN RECOGNITION
First, I focus on the few things that truly matter and go deep on those things. Second, I ensure information (reports, escalation, artificial intelligence summaries, etc.) are all able to be consumed without explanation which saves time. No meetings for reporting’s sake. Third, I block continuous flows of time during the day or week to read and consume, meaning pattern recognition is built and it’s easier to spot exceptions. I supplement by building AI tooling that automatically escalates exceptions (good or bad). — Alex Triplett, You.com
13. BALANCE AI SUMMARIES WITH TRUSTED SOURCES
I balance new approaches, like using artificial intelligence agents to scan and summarize the trends relevant to me, with methods I’ve trusted throughout my career, including long reads and one-on-one connects. The first approach is a good scan. The second allows for a more focused deep dive. — Todd James, Aurora Insights LLC
14. SPEND DIRECT TIME WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS
There is no question that separating signal from the noise is harder than ever. I try to spend direct time with customers, employees, and other stakeholders to understand where work is breaking down, where friction is building, and where people, process, and technology is making a difference. In my own work, I organize my research using both structure and intelligence to be able to capture context, exert control, and collaborate with my team. This enables me to stay informed through a framework to process information and hunt for insights. — Thomas Scott, Wrike
15. READ THREE NEWSPAPERS DAILY
Every morning, I read The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Times Union, my local newspaper in upstate New York. — Ed Mitzen, The Business For Good Foundation
16. USE TWO QUESTIONS AS A FILTER
My approach for staying informed without drowning in information is a filter with two parts: What do I need to do my job well and what do my stakeholders and leadership need from me? That filter lets me take in a large volume of information quickly and still act on it decisively, rather than getting stuck processing everything I see. Speed and clarity come from knowing exactly what you’re looking for before you start. — Megan Noel, Covista
17. SEEK DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, EVEN DISAGREEMENT
When you rely on a single source or perspective for news, you’re out of balance. And an unbalanced mind gets stuck in inaction, nihilism, and overwhelm. To avoid that, I deliberately follow people across the political and philosophical spectrum, not just those I agree with. Our work brings us into conversation with donors of every persuasion, so understanding what others believe, even when I disagree, is part of the job. My practical rule: For every voice that confirms what I think, seek out one that challenges it. That habit keeps me sharp enough to meet people where they are and still bring my own lens to the table. — Edgar Villanueva, Decolonizing Wealth Project
18. EDIT WHAT YOU CONSUME
I am lucky to be a fast reader, so I read widely. That allows me to work through a lot of information and only keep the great stuff. You have to go broad and be open to many inputs but ruthlessly edit what you consume. — James Greenfield, Koto
19. FILTER QUICKLY THEN GO INTO PROCESSING MODE
Running a global company taught me that information is only valuable if it changes how you think or what you build. I consume a lot of information, so I let artificial intelligence summarize it, listen to podcasts at double speed, and quickly filter what matters. Then I deliberately switch into processing mode through meditation, mantras, and breathing exercises. That pause helps me create space for clear thinking and decide what deserves attention. I’ve also learned that knowledge only becomes valuable when you apply it. So I always turn a useful idea into action before moving on to the next one. — Victoria Repa, BetterMe