Information Overload

One of the hallmark studies of manual work industrialization is finding the optimal shovel load weight of 21 lbs. If workers attempt to carry too heavy of a load, they risk getting exhausted too quickly and getting injured. Whereas, with a lighter load, their overall productivity per day is higher.

Similarly, researchers have made the case that there is an “optimal” load for knowledge consumption and that if we consume too much there are real consequences. Yet, there is no science on the ideal load for knowledge consumption.