🕯
Ego Depletion
After exerting energy on a task, you may be less motivated to start another.
Similar psychology:
Likely impacts:
Last updated: 03/11/2026
How to utilise this in your designs
Midway through a demanding lesson, you could add a short pause that tells people how well they're doing, giving them some recovery and a reward before they carry on.
Example from
Duolingo
After someone completes a first goal, try setting the next target just a small step further, not the end goal, so starting again feels worth the effort.
Example from
Brilliant
For a repetitive setup task with new users, consider capping it with a short time limit, so it feels quick to start and they don't tire out halfway through.
Example from
Queue
When new users want to take on several demanding goals at once, it may help to ask them to focus on just one, rather than stacking efforts that could drain motivation.
Example from
Atoms
If someone tries to quit partway through a tiring workout, one option is to show how few steps are left, so finishing feels like a small effort, not another task.
Example from
JustFit
Possible impacts
Keeping the step after a demanding one short or rewarding could raise conversion rates, as tired users are less likely to decide the final step isn't worth the effort.
Building in breaks and quick wins between demanding tasks might help users stay motivated, rather than giving up after the first lesson, workout or setup step.
Users worn out by earlier effort may rush or skip later answers, so keeping demanding inputs short or early could improve the quality of what they enter.
Written by Peter Ramsey
Published: