Đề thi VSTEP Reading B2 — Decision Fatigue & Mental Energy

Every day, people make thousands of small decisions, from what to wear to what to eat for lunch. Although each choice seems minor, psychologists have found that the mental effort required to make decisions uses a real, measurable resource. This resource is often called 'willpower' or 'executive function,' and it becomes depleted as the day goes on. A well-known study by psychologist Roy Baumeister demonstrated this effect using a simple experiment. Participants who had to resist eating fresh cookies performed worse on a subsequent puzzle task than those who were allowed to eat them. The researchers concluded that self-control had drained a shared mental energy, leaving less for later tasks. The implications extend into everyday life. Judges are more likely to approve parole requests early in the morning than late in the day. Doctors may write shorter prescriptions after a long clinic shift. Shoppers who face too many options in a supermarket often default to familiar brands or buy nothing at all. Experts recommend strategies to manage decision fatigue: making important decisions earlier in the day, establishing routines for repetitive choices, and limiting daily options. By conserving mental energy, people can improve both their productivity and their well-being.