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We’ve all seen videos inviting us to sleep more, avoid blue light before bed, avoid coffee… This video goes beyond all that and explains why, in our modern world, we often feel tired.

It attributes much of this to mental fatigue, caused by decision overload. Our brains, originally built for simpler tasks, struggle with the thousands of decisions we make daily. It leads to a buildup of glutamate—a neurotransmitter that clogs neural pathways and makes decision-making harder, causing fatigue. And we make things even worse by drinking coffee! Adenosine is a chemical that naturally signals the brain to rest. It builds up throughout the day but caffeine blocks it, delaying tiredness, and stopping us from going to sleep when we should.

I like Johnny Harris’ videos because they always go one step beyond to explain interesting concepts. Be sure to check this one out!

  1. Avatar de Donncha Ó Caoimh
    Donncha Ó Caoimh

    @jeremy I think the idea that making decisions tires us out has been disproven. Neolithic cavemen did not sit around a camp fire and then decide to go hunting. They had to make sure their weapons were sharp, figure out where their prey was, discuss strategy, etc. Any mistake might have been fatal. Deciding on what shirt to wear and getting a coffee is harmless in comparison. 🙂

    I listened to some of that video while, ironically, I was falling asleep, but some of it appeared to be wrong to me.

    1. Avatar de Jeremy Herve
      Jeremy Herve

      @donncha The type of decision we have to make is definitely different, but I think the amount of decisions matters just as much. Deciding on what shirt to wear is definitely harmless, but it’s a decision to make nonetheless. Our modern society is full of distractions, events, inputs that require our attention and force us to make decisions. I think it adds up, to the point where it does impact our mental fatigue.

      The video resonated with me because lately, I’ve been contemplating the differences between my life and my father’s. We have different jobs, we have a different vision of what it means to be a father, a husband in today’s society. This in turn has a direct impact on our mental load and our spouses’ in our daily lives. And it has an impact on our mental fatigue. I think some of it can be explained by the amount of decisions we must make every day.

      In any case, sleeping more and better is definitely still the answer to many of our problems. 🙂 I wear a Oura ring to monitor my health, and that has made me well aware of how important my sleep is, and how some little things like a glass of whisky in front of a movie can impact my sleep and thus my productivity the next day!

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