The age that we live in has been titled the “Information Age”. We are constantly bombarded with different types of media to absorb and retain information. This weekend I went to a wedding approximately an hour from where I live. When we reached the location where the wedding was being held, we realized we had zero phone service and therefore no internet connectivity. For the seven or eight hours that we were there, I did not have access to any information; I could not check my email, look at Facebook or Twitter, read or create blog posts. I simply had to communicate with the person standing in front of me. This is the age that we live in, the Information Age, where everything is at our fingertips and in our faces, 24 hours a day.

How can we handle the amount of content that is coming to us each and every second?

With so many great options through podcasts, video, ebooks, printed books, seminars, and conferences, how do you ensure that the good information that you are consuming is actually retained and put into practice in your life? Here are some ways that I do it:

Keep a notepad with you

Whether it is a hand written piece of paper, or a digital form of text notepad, having that with you at all times is a great way to retain knowledge. Studies have determined that writing information down is the best way to retain it. That is why at conferences and in lectures, we are encouraged to take notes because it helps our brain retain the good information that we are hearing. So whatever form suits you is not important, either carry a notepad or a pen or use a good document system on your iPhone or other digital device. When you hear something that is of value, record it so that you can reference it later.

Consume a method that suits you

There are so many different mediums for accessing information these days. They can be audio, video or written and even within those broad categories there are so many sources of information available. For audio, you can buy CDs; you can purchase training material online or subscribe to free podcasts. Find a method that suits your way of life. I personally love to subscribe to podcasts and buy audio book versions of any material that I want to consume. I find it more practical for my lifestyle to listen to something rather than any other method. I have members of my family that are “readers”. They love to get books and even digital copies of content and sit down andtake the time out and read it.

What method you use is not important, you simply just need to find one that suits your lifestyle and your schedule. For content that I create and blogs that I use, I ensure that I create a mix of different formats such as audio, video and text, so that people who want to hear the content that I’m producing have the opportunity to do so.

Look for multi-tasking opportunities

I recently wrote an article how I achieved three things in my life that constantly sat on my to-do list by combining them into one. I exercised, walked the family dog and learnt new information by taking my iPod with me when I walked.

I create and consume content when I am driving in my car. To me, driving is one of the biggest wastes of time so I like to ensure that every moment that I spend behind the wheel of a car has a purpose by learning new information or creating new content. Multitasking is one of the best ways that one can utilize time, which would be otherwise wasted.