Đề thi VSTEP Reading B2 — Decision Fatigue and Daily Choices

Most people believe that the quality of their decisions depends mainly on the difficulty of the problem. However, recent research in behavioral psychology suggests something different: the time of day matters more than we realize. Scientists have found that the brain uses a significant amount of mental energy every time it makes a choice. This energy is limited and becomes depleted as the day progresses. After a long morning of meetings, emails, and small daily choices, the brain's ability to evaluate options declines sharply. This phenomenon is known as decision fatigue. When decision fatigue sets in, people tend to make impulsive choices or simply avoid making decisions at all. For example, judges are more likely to approve parole requests early in the morning than late in the afternoon. The same pattern appears in shoppers, doctors, and students. The good news is that decision fatigue can be managed. Planning important choices for the morning, reducing daily trivial decisions, and taking short mental breaks can help maintain mental clarity throughout the day.