MIND: Should You Sleep On It?

DAILY INSIGHT Did you know that making decisions makes your brain tired? Every choice you make (even choosing between the mint tea or the oat milk latte) draws on the brain’s executive function, and asks the ‘active self’ to work. This active self is an element of the ego — and it is a limited resource. Each time you make a choice you reduce your mental capacity, which has an impact on your ability to make clear decisions about other things. DAILY ACTION Studies show that essentially, the brain works like a muscle. When it’s used, it gets tired, and then doesn’t function as well when it’s used again. When you’ve got a big, important choice to make, take note of how many decisions (even seemingly meaningless ones!) you’ve made already that day. If you’ve been tiring out your active self, then the immediate answer might be: sleep on it.