What is ego depletion?

Ego depletion is a psychological concept that relates to the diminishing returns of mental effort when one has to continually exert self-control or make repeated decisions. According to Andrew Huberman, ego depletion is akin to decision fatigue, where the constant need to make decisions depletes mental resources, making it harder to maintain goal-oriented behaviors. This depletion is partially mediated by the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is vital for maintaining goal-directed behavior linked to our self-concept of achieving certain goals 1.

Ego depletion is not just about being tired from making decisions; it involves a decrease in the mental energy required to defend one's position or maintain self-control, which impacts one's ability to function effectively 1. The concept suggests that our mental stamina for exerting self-control is finite, and as we use it, our ability to continue exerting control weakens unless we replenish our mental energy.