If you’re an active feed reader, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of feeds in your reader at times. An easy way to slim down the number without removing any, is to show only feeds that have new posts.
If you’re using Google Reader, click on the Show: updated link. This will then hide any feeds and folders that don’t have something new to offer. Plus, as you read through feeds, once you have all items marked as read, they disappear from the sidebar. Not only does it make you feel a bit better about the number of feeds you track but it also helps those that have unread items stand out a bit more.
Keeping that in mind, once nice feature about Google reader is that it will scroll back in history for the life of the blog. It’s not limited to 10 or 15 items like other readers. However, that takes time to load and ends up showing a lot more information on the page than necessary. Instead, just show new items.
Now, if there is only one new item, it gives you a bit of whitespace and it doesn’t feel like information overload. If there are 8 new posts, you’ll know for sure when you reach the end of new posts as it will just stop. No more never ending feeds.
I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now and it’s much nicer on the eyes. I track about 100 feeds and only about half have daily posts. Hiding inactive feeds and previously read posts help me get through them faster and I feel a bit less overwhelmed with all the new information.
I agree on both of those (isn’t it the default?). The other thing to make you feel less overwhelmed is on the other end of the red arrow on your second picture: the “Mark all as read” button.
Look, ma, no stories!
Granted, you may not be as informed or have anything to write about for work, but it really alleviates the stress of a billion stories. 😉
I find that helpful, since I was having that very problem.
Thanks
Great tip Thomas. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of feeds from my bookmarked blog sites.
I use a MyYahoo front page to greet me each morning in the same manner you are describing. I have a feed summary of those feeds I monitor, but configured to only display those updated in the last 24 hours. It works well too.
I agree on both of those (isn’t it the default?). The other thing to make you feel less overwhelmed is on the other end of the red arrow on your second picture: the “Mark all as read” button.
Look, ma, no stories!
Granted, you may not be as informed or have anything to write about for work, but it really alleviates the stress of a billion stories
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