10 Tips to Master Google Reader and Conquer Information Overload

In today’s fast-paced digital world, there’s an abundance of information available at our fingertips. With an overwhelming amount of data bombarding us every day, it’s easy to suffer from information overload. One of the biggest culprits of this modern-day problem is an RSS feed reader. However, with a few hacks, it’s possible to tame the feed reader beast and make the most out of your time. That’s where Google Reader comes in – one of the most popular online feed readers that allow users to get their daily dose of information in a manageable manner.

Here are our top 10 tips to maximize Google Reader’s features and conquer information overload:

1. Sort Your Feeds by Priority
Google Reader allows you to organize your feeds by topic, but you can also categorize them by priority as well. Give your feeds a priority tag – Must Read, Can Be Skipped, etc. This way, you’ll know which items are important and which can be skipped when you’re strapped for time.

2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Master the basics of keyboard shortcuts in Google Reader, and experience a significant improvement in productivity. Keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time in the long run. Some of the most common shortcuts include “j/k” to move up and down the list, “o” to open and close an item, “s” to toggle a star, “m” to mark as read/unread, and “t” to tag an item. Get your hands on a Cheat Sheet of Google Reader shortcuts for a comprehensive list of them.

3. Optimize Your Feed Reading Time by Combining Feeds
Use FeedShake to combine, sort, and filter multiple RSS feeds to create a customized feed. You can also use filters and tags to amalgamate feeds to optimize your feed-reading time fully. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try Yahoo Pipes – a powerful RSS feed remixer that lets you create web mashups that include various data from a variety of sources.

4. Add Tags to Your Feed Items
Organize your feed items with tags. This is one of the best features of Google Reader that makes life easier for those who need to optimize their time. Click on “add tags” and enter relevant tags for individual posts.

5. Search Your Feed Items
While Google Reader doesn’t come with an in-app search feature, you can work around it by using Google Reader Custom Search. This tool uses Google Co-op inside Google Reader to search through your feeds.

6. Star Items for Future Reference
Use the star function to save items that you may want to refer to later. Access these items with ease in the “Starred Items Section” when you have the time to look through them more carefully.

7. Use a Smart Google Reader Subscribe Button
The Smart Google Reader Subscribe Button is a handy tool that makes subscribing to RSS feeds easy. It also tells you if you’ve already subscribed to a site, making it perfect for those with numerous feeds.

8. Use Expanded View
Productivity can shoot up with the use of expanded view as it allows you to scan through all the feed items quickly. However, don’t just scroll down the page. Move from one post to the next using the “J” key, and return using the “K” key.

9. Do a Weekly or Monthly Cleanup
Over time, there will be feeds that you will stop reading, or read much less frequently. Keep your Google Reader subscription under control by cleaning up your subscriptions regularly. Use the Subscription Trends feature to determine which feeds you read less than 5% of the time and delete them.

10. Allot a Certain Time of the Day for Reading Feeds
Limit your feed reading time to a dedicated period each day. If you limit yourself to just 30 minutes, you’ll realise that everything will still be there tomorrow. In this way, you’ll manage your time more efficiently and get more done.

In conclusion, Google Reader is a powerful tool for anyone trying to stay on top of the vast amounts of information online. The tips above are just some of the many ways to get the most out of your feed reader, without getting lost in the constant stream of information. Use these smart hacks to tailor your reading, and you’ll soon become a productivity pro, optimizing your feed reading experience.