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Each time a person visits a website, the brain starts a learning process. While attempting to remember why one visited the website in the first place, each activity takes up processing space in the brain. This may lead to cognitive load, which refers to the mental work required to process information.
Users of smartphones and computers rapidly learned that running too many apps simultaneously causes the gadget to lag or even freeze. Actually, the human brain experiences many of the same things. Human brains can only process a finite amount of information before slowing down. Memory capacity, cognitive speed, and the capability to comprehend information all suffer from information overload.
Giving the brain too many options, a lack of clarity, visual clutter, and forcing it to think something through more thoroughly than it can handle are the main causes of cognitive overload and burnout. Thus, for those who are thinking about how they can improve their UI/UX, it is important for UX design agencies which know how to alleviate cognitive overload. For starters, here are 5 tips to reduce users’ cognitive overload and burnout:
- Use Time-Tested Methods
- Get Rid of Any Unnecessary Steps
- Keep It Simple
- Decluttering Visually
- Eliminate Some Options
Use Time-Tested Methods
The majority of the user base has grown accustomed to certain common behaviors through time. Hence, even though the imagination of the designer urges them to go crazy and build something utterly original, they should stay grounded and follow the user base. What really makes a difference is how successfully the user will interact with the website’s features. Thus, it is best to use time-tested methods.
The buttons for minimizing, resizing, and shutting, for instance, should use conventional symbols. There should be pointing arrows on the back and forward buttons. The location of the back and cancel buttons, etc. should also be clear.
The best course of action is to stick with the common methods that the users are already accustomed to. If they are unable to carry out the main action they have been using for years, they will feel abandoned. They simply want things to be done, so these things need to get done as soon as possible.
Get Rid of Any Unnecessary Steps
The cognitive load of the user increases with each step they take. The user will lose their focus or become irritated if there are too many pointless steps. Unnecessary steps make the user exert more effort and devote more working memory to the activity because the user’s working memory is concentrated on achieving certain goals.
The amount of effort a user must exert must be maintained to a minimum. Any action, no matter how minor, has an impact. To provide users with the quickest route to their goal, eliminate any potential redundancies.
Keep It Simple
Cognitive overload will increase with unnecessary background patterns and routine actions seen from a new perspective. Instead, a straightforward page with default options will aid in letting users see what the website has to offer. A simple website layout will boost interaction, get rid of pointless distractions, and aid users in concentrating on their objectives. Maintaining simplicity in design will produce greater results.
Remove everything that is not necessary. In general, keeping only what is necessary is preferable because it speeds up loading and simplifies the process.
Declutter Visually
Cognitive overload will increase if a webpage contains an excessive number of representations. On the web, it’s difficult to concentrate when there are too many images, animations, icons, advertising, text types, and vibrant colors competing for attention, much like it is when multiple people are speaking to us at once.
Reduce visual distractions as much as possible. When it comes to UX design, minimalism is absolutely the key. Only use necessary graphics. Make it simple. Utilize a variety of visual elements, including text, photos, and others. Follow ordered asymmetry or symmetrical patterns.
Eliminate Some Options
Users desire a lot of alternatives, but having too many options will cause their brains to become overloaded. Reduce the list to just the most important or broad options. To align and clearly comprehend the needs of the user, create subcategories. Instead of leaving them unsure of what to select when they must make a close call, help them in choosing the optimal option.
The Bottom Line
With great UX design, the user should not have to pause and consider their next move. For the user to transition from the homepage to the checkout as smoothly as possible, each subsequent
step must be simple to complete. It is crucial to keep this in mind as developers create a website, especially considering these solutions for cognitive overload and burnout. Businesses may hire product designers that are equipped with this expertise.
