--- type: protocol locale: en path: /en/protocol/load-reduction-framework module: 2 title: Load Reduction Framework --- ## Purpose of this module This module explains how different forms of load accumulate and why burnout persists even when effort is reduced. Its role is explanatory. It does not prescribe actions or interventions. --- ## Understanding load in burnout Burnout is not caused by intensity alone. It emerges from sustained load that exceeds recovery capacity over time. Load is not uniform. Different forms of load accumulate, interact, and resist recovery in different ways. --- ## Cognitive load Cognitive load refers to sustained mental processing demands. It includes: - continuous problem-solving - unresolved complexity - high levels of context switching - prolonged attention fragmentation Cognitive load accumulates even when tasks feel familiar. Efficiency does not eliminate load. It often masks it. Under burnout conditions, cognitive load becomes harder to discharge. Rest alone may reduce fatigue without restoring capacity. --- ## Emotional load Emotional load refers to sustained emotional regulation demands. It includes: - managing expectations - suppressing frustration or disengagement - maintaining emotional availability under strain Emotional detachment often emerges as a protective response. It is not a failure of empathy or motivation. When emotional load exceeds recovery capacity, detachment reduces further depletion at the cost of engagement. --- ## Decision load Decision load refers to the cumulative burden of ongoing choices. It includes: - frequent micro-decisions - unresolved trade-offs - responsibility without resolution Decision load is often invisible. Reducing surface complexity rarely eliminates it. Under burnout conditions, decision load competes directly with recovery for limited cognitive resources. --- ## Why generic advice often fails Most advice assumes available recovery capacity. When burnout is present: - execution bandwidth is reduced - tolerance for effort is lower - recovery signals are unreliable Advice adds cognitive and decision load at a stage where load reduction is required first. Structure precedes action. Understanding load precedes change. This framework exists to clarify that order.