Modern Dilemmas: Overwhelmed by the flood of online communication

Dear Alex, I love the internet but find it hard to manage the flood of information I get constantly from news alerts, emails, tweets and Facebook. I am always looking for ways to improve my life but so much of what I find or get is a waste of my time. I feel under so much pressure to stay on top, how can I cut through it all and still win?

Float effortlessly above it all, seriously. The pressure you feel comes from feeling the need to have your life on track, be in the know and part of the flood of new technologies that get so much media coverage. We can all feel compelled to tweet or feel out of the loop if we don't, but guess what? No-one's keeping score.

Winning and having your life "on track" used to make sense and was what we all strove for but today things are different. The so-called track has gone and in its place are floodwaters, very powerful, often dangerous but continuously breaking new ground and if you're not ready, or are ill-equipped, you can drown. Because of the way we communicate today, everything, and I mean everything, can change in a nanosecond, from careers to whole industries, so trying to plough ahead and take it all in is impossible.

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Instead, rise above it and navigate your way downstream. Go with the flow of change, be flexible, embrace it even and have fun but don't get overwhelmed by letting it take over your life.

Make a decision not to respond to all and sundry – just what interests you and keeps you afloat. Ignoring 80 per cent of your messages is a vital element of mastering the internet.

Get friendly with your delete button and don't be afraid to use it. Too many people put too much emphasis on what people are thinking or saying about them. Just because the way we communicate today is easy doesn't mean it has to be hard on you.

Now you are flood-proof, somewhere out there is the information and support that you need. Rich in content and diversity, the knowledge available on the internet is limitless.

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Steer towards what you want but knowing exactly what that is helps. Right now, as best you can, write a statement of purpose for your life.

If this feels impossible, there are websites created specifically to guide you through the process. Yesterday it might have been "To survive until bedtime", but now look to the horizon. It can be grand or silly, as long as it rings true.

Knowing your life purpose and heading towards that tends to take care of all your navigation problems in life.

Alexandra Watson is a leading happiness coach, best-selling author and co-Founder of National Happiness Day. www.Alexandra Watson.com

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