Economic Cybernetics Department
ERI of Business, Economics and Management of SumDU

How to avoid ‘cognitive overload’?

🧠⚡ Our brain, like a powerful processor, has limited ‘working memory’ (about 7 +- 2 blocks of information at a time). When we try to learn ‘everything at once,’ cognitive overload occurs: concentration drops and learning stops. Learning ‘without breaks’ is self-sabotage. Effectiveness lies not in the number of hours, but in reasonable dosing.

Here are the key strategies for reducing the load and increasing the depth of material assimilation:

1️ Learn from examples — then do it yourself. 📘✍️

Start with 2–3 solved examples: understand the logic, write down ‘why this is so,’ and only then try it yourself. Formula: example → analysis → practice → comparison.

2️ Gradual reduction of hints (fading guidance). 🪜

First, work according to the template, then with partial assistance, and then on your own. After each module, ask yourself, ‘What can I do without prompts?’ Even 30% independence strengthens your memory.

3️ Rehearse the procedure in advance. 🎯

Close your eyes for a minute and go through the steps in your mind. This reduces stress and makes execution faster and more accurate.

4️ Minimise distractions. 🚫📱

One tab — one task. Use Pomodoro (25 minutes), open the schedule nearby or print it out. Switching contexts is the main ‘consumer’ of energy.

5️ Explain your decisions to yourself (self-explanation). ✏️💭

After the exercise, write down briefly: ‘Why did I do it this way?’ The reason is easier to remember than just the result.

6️ Combine modalities. 👀👂

Hearing + sight work better than one channel: listen to a lecture and at the same time look at a diagram or draw a simple visualisation.

💡 Conclusion: A true professional in economic cybernetics knows how to not only operate with data, but also manage their own cognitive load. Small doses of information, a clear structure, and short pauses are the formula for effective learning. Work smart, and learning will bring results, not fatigue.

Information prepared based on materials from GENIUS.SPACE: https://t.me/genius_space/1009