The Art of Not Being Anxious with too much Information
It's no secret that we live in a time where information never stops — and that's making us stressed.
Whether it’s news alerts, work emails, or endless search results, we’re surrounded by more content than we can handle.
This flood of information is leading to a phenomenon known as "information anxiety."
And for many people, it’s getting in the way of clear thinking and peace of mind.
But the good news: this kind of anxiety isn’t permanent.
You can train your brain to handle information better, feel less overwhelmed, and even enjoy being curious again.
Information Anxiety Is Real—and Widespread
You’re not imagining it: many people feel panicked just to find or process information.
Researchers have found that anxiety increases when people have trouble searching, sorting, or understanding information—even if they know where it is.
This is especially common among students, workers, and anyone who has to manage research, deadlines, or decision-making online
Common triggers include:
Too many sources saying different things
Confusing platforms or databases
Feeling rushed to “know everything”
Trouble telling what’s accurate or not
The Brain Feels the Pressure
When you can’t make sense of information, your brain kicks into stress mode.
Instead of calmly sorting through what matters, people often freeze, scroll endlessly, or give up altogether.
This stress response doesn’t just make learning harder—it can cause self-doubt and mental fatigue
What happens next:
Decision-making gets slower
Confidence drops
Focus disappears
When anxiety goes up, curiosity goes down.
And that’s tricky, especially when you need to learn something new or solve a problem.
Train Your Mind to Stay Calm Around Information
The goal isn’t to block out information—it’s to learn how to handle it better.
Think of it like learning to swim in a deep pool.
The water’s not going anywhere. But with a few tools and some practice, you’ll stop flailing and start gliding.
Here’s what helps:
Learn how to search smart. People who get training in search strategies, evaluation, and digital tools feel less anxious overall.
Narrow your focus. Anxiety increases when we try to manage too much change or too many inputs. Instead, aim to write and answer one clear question at a time
Simplify the tools you use. People feel calmer when they use platforms or systems that feel clear and supportive—not complicated
Acknowledge the stress. Many people feel shame or embarrassment about struggling with information.
But stress during search is common—and it can be fixed
Less Panic. More Clarity.
You don’t need to absorb everything to feel informed.
With a few changes in how you search, filter, and read, you’ll feel more grounded.
Information is here to stay—but anxiety doesn’t have to be.
References
Khan, S., Naveed, M., & Anwar, M. (2022). Relationship of business students’ information-seeking anxiety with socio-academic variables in the digital environment. Information Discovery and Delivery.
Naveed, M., & Anwar, M. (2021). Information anxiety in the workplace: Scale development and validation. Information Development, 38, 406 - 423.
Vellani, V., Charpentier, C., Dezza, I., Globig, L., Gädeke, M., & Sharot, T. (2022). P115. Anxiety Selectively Increases Information-Seeking in Response to Large Changes. Biological Psychiatry, 91, S133-S134.
Yang, X., & Khan, A. (2023). Validity and reliability of factors causing information-seeking anxiety during information-seeking behaviors. Collection and Curation.