The Ergonomics of Mental Workload in the Workplace

In today's fast-paced world, it has become increasingly important to manage mental workload. Mental workload simply put refers to the amount of cognitive energy or resources needed to complete a task or job. Of course, a great deal of this does depend on how experienced we are in what we are doing but as we spend a significant portion of our lives working, it’s worthwhile to consider the ergonomics behind mental workload.

Ergonomics seeks to design the workplace in a way that maximizes productivity and minimizing the risks of an injury or illness. The application of ergonomics to mental workload ensures that the cognitive demands placed on individuals are reasonable (within reasonable mental capacity) and do not lead to stress, burnout, or other mental health issues. There are social factors that can also play a role here, but will be discussed in another article.  

Here are some key mental load considerations related to the design of a workstation and environment:

1. Task design: The design of the task allows for the management of mental workload. Tasks should be structured in a way that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. KISS is an acronym for Keep It Simple Stupid, which shall be applied.  This reduces the cognitive load on individuals and helps them focus on the job tasks at hand.

2. Work environment: The work environment itself can also impact mental workload. Examples include: lighting, air flow, noise levels, and temperature should be uncomfortable and or cause distractions. A well-designed work environment will focus on the reduction of stress as to improve concentration.

3. Breaks and rest periods: Scheduling regular breaks helps individuals become more productive overall. Not only that, it helps mental workload recovery as well. Ergonomics has a term used for this called duty cycle which can be applied to both the physical and mental duty. Short breaks not only help the body but refreshes the mind as well preventing worker mental fatigue. Humans do need to recharge to maintain high productivity levels so.

4. Training and development: Experts make their job look easy! The job didn’t change but their knowledge and development helps individuals manage their mental workload. Training and development are a big part of a healthy workplace and this can include even time management skills, stress management techniques, and other coping mechanisms.

5. Support and feedback: Allowing your workforce to vent and check in on their performance. Collecting support and feedback can help individuals manage their mental workload. This can include providing resources, guidance, and a supportive work culture that encourages individuals to ask for help when needed.

The ergonomics of mental workload is a critical consideration in today’s workplaces. Consider designing tasks, work environments, rest breaks, training, development, and design that minimizes cognitive load and maximizes productivity, employees can manage their mental workload effectively. This will help avoid stress, burnout, and other mental health issues. Employers are the greatest resource and it is critical to provide them the necessary resources and to create a supportive work culture.