What Is Ego Depletion?

Ego depletion takes place when people use up their available willpower. When faced with additional demands, self-control can be more difficult.

January 17, 2025 · 16 min · 3307 words · Rebecca Johnson

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Ego Depletion?ResearchCausesExamplesEffectsPrevention

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Table of Contents

What Is Ego Depletion?

Research

Causes

Examples

Effects

Prevention

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People are often faced with urges, desires, and natural tendencies that demand satisfaction. Giving in to such feelings is not always realistic, socially acceptable, or even healthy. In order to deal with such challenges, people must exert self-control in order to regulate their actions. Very often, we need todelay gratificationof these urges until a more appropriate time and place.

Such self-management takes a great deal of mental effort, both cognitive and emotional. Some of these efforts require less willpower, while others demand much more. Even relatively minor acts of self-control can take a toll.

Ego depletion happens when people use up their available willpower on one task. As a result, they are unable to exert the same level of self-control on subsequent, often unrelated tasks.

Willpower is a limited resource.The idea behind this theory is that willpower is like a muscle in that it can be both strengthened and fatigued. For example, if you exhaust yourself doing sprints, you will be less able to perform other physical tasks.

Research has suggested that willpower and self-control are much the same. If you use your available energy and reach a state of ego depletion, you will have less self-control when faced with ensuing tasks.

Self-controlis important. Having good self-control is beneficial in a number of ways. People who possess high levels of self-control may have better relationships and higher achievement levels.Those who lack self-control, on the other hand, can experience social conflict and poor academic performance.

Press Play for Advice On Building Inner Strength

The concept of ego depletion has taken some hard knocks in recent years.Some reviews of the research have suggested that the effect may be less powerful than previously believed. And an updated meta-analysis concluded that the ego depletion does not exist at all.

Other researchers have proposed that ego depletion is not merely a result of draining limited self-control resources. Instead, they suggest that shifts inmotivation,attention, andemotionplay a critical role.

In a study exploring this theory, participants first completed a task designed to deplete willpower.Some of the participants were then told that the purpose of the study was to provide evidence supporting a new therapy that would help people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Participants who had been given this incentive were motivated to perform well for the benefit of Alzheimer’s patients, leading them to outperform those in the control group. Motivation, the research suggests, plays an important part in ego depletion.

A variety of factors can contribute to ego depletion and make it harder to control yourself and regain your willpower, including:

There are many examples of how ego depletion can impact your behaviors in both large and small ways. What might happen if youfind yourself low on self-controldue to ego depletion?

Giving Up on Your Weight-Loss Goals

Dieting is one of the most obvious examples of how ego depletion can sabotage your willpower. You might spend all day diligently sticking to your diet. You eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, and even resist the sweet snacks that a co-worker brings into the office during your mid-afternoon break.

That night, as you arrive home from work, you find that your resolve has grown weak and you no longer have the self-control to stick to your diet.

Less Likely to Help Others

Ego depletion has also been shown to have an influence on what is known asprosocial behavior, or social interactions designed to help others. When people reflect back on their own behaviors, they sometimes experience feelings of guilt. It is these guilty feelings that sometimes lead people to behave in prosocial ways.

Studies have shown that people who are ego depleted experience fewer feelings of guilt. In studies where people were induced into an ego depleted state, these participants were less likely to experience feelings of guilt and therefore less likely to engage in prosocial actions.

So what impact does ego depletion actually have on your day-to-day life? There are a number of ways that this phenomenon can influence your behaviors and decisions:

Dieting

Researchers have found that chronic dieters are more prone to ego depletion than non-dieters . Because dieters apply so much willpower to controlling their food intake, they become more prone to losing self-control in the face of temptation.

For example, in one study participants (some who were dieting and some not) had to either sit next to a bowl of tempting snacks or far away from the desirable treats. When the participants were later given the chance to eat ice cream, those who were dieting and had to sit right next to the bowl of treats ate more ice cream than the other participants. Because they had to use so much willpower to resist eating the snacks, these participants depleted their self-control resources.

Decision-Making

Studies have also found that when shoppers experience ego depletion, they are more likely to make poor or impulsive purchasing decisions. The sheer number of choices that consumers face can lead to such depletion. Consumers are forced to weigh an enormous number of choices. This complexity leads shoppers to become overwhelmed and frustrated.

Once a state of low self-control has been reached, buyers will purchase items based on simple criteria such as the cheapest item or the product linked to higher status. You have probably experienced this yourself if you have ever found yourself grabbing something off the shelf just because it was the lowest priced or a name brand that you recognized.

Performance

Mental toughness and determination are critical for athletic performance, but researchers have found that these tend to decline following difficult mental tasks. This suggests that the depletion of willpower due to mental demands can actually impair performance on physical tasks. For student-athletes, this might mean that taking a challenging exam right before a game might actually hurt their performance.

Substance Use

Some research suggests that depleting self-regulation can also leave people susceptible to impulsive behaviors, including excessive or chronic alcohol consumption. This can be challenging for individuals prone to substance use or abuse. Exhausting self-control on unrelated tasks might then make it more difficult to say no when temptation strikes. Ego depletion has also been linked to quitting smoking, contributing to smoking cessation failure.

Ego depletion can have a serious impact on your motivation, success, and performance. So what can you do to minimize the effects of this drain on willpower and self-control?

Improve Your Mood

Change Your Outlook

In one study, researchers found that participants who viewed themselves as tired were also more likely to experience ego depletion. Those who were able to step back and focus more on the big picture rather than just their own self-perceptions were able to reverse this effect. By focusing on your overall goals rather than just your feelings in the moment, you can minimize the impact of ego depletion.

Think About What Matters to You

Research has also shown that acts ofself-affirmationcan counteract the effects of ego depletion.Self-affirmation refers to any behavior or thought that boosts integrity of the self. One simple but highly effective form of self-affirmation involves expressing your core values—the beliefs that you hold dear. During times when you are feeling exhausted and stressed, take a moment to remind yourself of the things that matter to you the most.

Positive Affirmations to Relieve Anxiety and Stress

Prioritize Sleep

Sleep resets your self-control and provides you with the mental energy needed to have willpower throughout the day. Similarly, lack of sleep makes self-control more difficult. Think about how much harder it is to resist junk food when you’re sleep deprived than when you have a good night’s rest.

Practice Stress Management

Managing your stress can not only help strengthen your self-control, but it can help you better manage those areas in your life that are depleting your energy and willpower. Taking time to practice relaxation strategies throughout the day, like deep breathing ormindfulness meditation, can also help recharge your mental energy.

A Word From Verywell

Understanding ego depletion has important implications. Because self-control plays such a critical role in so many areas of life, finding ways to improve it can enhance overall well-being.

People are often encouraged to marshal their willpower to overcome any challenge—but sometimes the act of doing so can leave us lacking control later on when we really need it.

If you feel like your resources are depleted, look for ways to boost your willpower during critical moments. Uplifting activities like enjoying a funny movie or focusing on the things that are important to you can give you a boost when you are feeling depleted.

The Psychology of Motivation and Reaching Your Goals

22 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cheng YY, Shein PP, Chiou WB.Escaping the impulse to immediate gratification: the prospect concept promotes a future-oriented mindset, prompting an inclination towards delayed gratification.Br J Psychol. 2012;103(1):129-41. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.2011.02067.xAmerican Psychological Association.Is Willpower a Limited Resource?.Gillebaart M.The ‘Operational’ Definition of Self-Control.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1231. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01231Eyal N. Harvard Business Review.Have We Been Thinking About Willpower the Wrong Way for 30 Years?.Dang J.An updated meta-analysis of the ego depletion effect. Psychol Res. 2018;82(4):645-651. doi:10.1007/s00426-017-0862-xEvans DR, Boggero IA, Segerstrom SC.The Nature of Self-Regulatory Fatigue and “Ego Depletion”: Lessons From Physical Fatigue.Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2016;20(4):291-310. doi:10.1177/1088868315597841Muraven M, Slessareva E.Mechanisms of self-control failure: motivation and limited resources.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2003;29(7):894-906. doi:10.1177/0146167203029007008Vadillo MA, Gold N, Osman M.The bitter truth about sugar and willpower: the limited evidential value of the glucose model of ego depletion.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(9):1207-14. doi:10.1177/0956797616654911Segerstrom SC, Nes LS.Heart rate variability reflects self-regulatory strength, effort, and fatigue.Psychol Sci.2007;18(3):275-81. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01888.xMaranges, H.Ego depletion and changes in the premenstrual phase: impaired self-control as a common source.Loth KA, Goldschmidt AB, Wonderlich SA, Lavender JM, Neumark-sztainer D, Vohs KD.Could the resource depletion model of self-control help the field to better understand momentary processes that lead to binge eating?.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(11):998-1001. doi:10.1002/eat.22641Agrawal N, Wan EW.Regulating risk or risking regulation? Construal levels and depletion effects in the processing of health messages.J Assoc Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331Xu H, Bègue L, Bushman BJ.Too fatigued to care: Ego depletion, guilt, and prosocial behavior. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2012;43(5):379–384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2012.03.007Wang L, Tao T, Fan C, Gao W, Wei C.The Influence of Chronic Ego Depletion on Goal Adherence: An Experience Sampling Study.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(11):e0142220. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142220Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635Baumeister RF, Sparks EA, Stillman TF, Vohs DK.Free will in consumer behavior: Self-control, ego depletion, and choice.Journal of Consumer Psychology. 2008;18(1):4-13. doi:10.1016/j.jcps.2007.10.002Dorris DC, Power DA, Kenefick E.Investigating the effects of ego depletion on physical exercise routines of athletes.Psychol Sport Exerc.2012;13(2):118-125. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.10.004Baumeister RF.Ego Depletion and Self‐Regulation Failure: A Resource Model of Self‐Control.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27:281-284. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000060879.61384.A4Heckman BW, Macqueen DA, Marquinez NS, Mackillop J, Bickel WK, Brandon TH.Self-control depletion and nicotine deprivation as precipitants of smoking cessation failure: A human laboratory model.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2017;85(4):381-396. doi:10.1037/ccp0000197Tice DM, Baumeister RF, Shmueli D, Muraven M.Restoring the self: Positive affect helps improve self-regulation following ego depletion.J Exp Soc Psychol. 2007;43(3):379-384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.007Agrawal N, Wen Wan E.Regulating Risk or Risking Regulation? Construal Levels and Depletion Effects in the Processing of Health Messages.J Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635

22 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cheng YY, Shein PP, Chiou WB.Escaping the impulse to immediate gratification: the prospect concept promotes a future-oriented mindset, prompting an inclination towards delayed gratification.Br J Psychol. 2012;103(1):129-41. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.2011.02067.xAmerican Psychological Association.Is Willpower a Limited Resource?.Gillebaart M.The ‘Operational’ Definition of Self-Control.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1231. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01231Eyal N. Harvard Business Review.Have We Been Thinking About Willpower the Wrong Way for 30 Years?.Dang J.An updated meta-analysis of the ego depletion effect. Psychol Res. 2018;82(4):645-651. doi:10.1007/s00426-017-0862-xEvans DR, Boggero IA, Segerstrom SC.The Nature of Self-Regulatory Fatigue and “Ego Depletion”: Lessons From Physical Fatigue.Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2016;20(4):291-310. doi:10.1177/1088868315597841Muraven M, Slessareva E.Mechanisms of self-control failure: motivation and limited resources.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2003;29(7):894-906. doi:10.1177/0146167203029007008Vadillo MA, Gold N, Osman M.The bitter truth about sugar and willpower: the limited evidential value of the glucose model of ego depletion.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(9):1207-14. doi:10.1177/0956797616654911Segerstrom SC, Nes LS.Heart rate variability reflects self-regulatory strength, effort, and fatigue.Psychol Sci.2007;18(3):275-81. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01888.xMaranges, H.Ego depletion and changes in the premenstrual phase: impaired self-control as a common source.Loth KA, Goldschmidt AB, Wonderlich SA, Lavender JM, Neumark-sztainer D, Vohs KD.Could the resource depletion model of self-control help the field to better understand momentary processes that lead to binge eating?.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(11):998-1001. doi:10.1002/eat.22641Agrawal N, Wan EW.Regulating risk or risking regulation? Construal levels and depletion effects in the processing of health messages.J Assoc Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331Xu H, Bègue L, Bushman BJ.Too fatigued to care: Ego depletion, guilt, and prosocial behavior. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2012;43(5):379–384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2012.03.007Wang L, Tao T, Fan C, Gao W, Wei C.The Influence of Chronic Ego Depletion on Goal Adherence: An Experience Sampling Study.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(11):e0142220. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142220Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635Baumeister RF, Sparks EA, Stillman TF, Vohs DK.Free will in consumer behavior: Self-control, ego depletion, and choice.Journal of Consumer Psychology. 2008;18(1):4-13. doi:10.1016/j.jcps.2007.10.002Dorris DC, Power DA, Kenefick E.Investigating the effects of ego depletion on physical exercise routines of athletes.Psychol Sport Exerc.2012;13(2):118-125. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.10.004Baumeister RF.Ego Depletion and Self‐Regulation Failure: A Resource Model of Self‐Control.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27:281-284. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000060879.61384.A4Heckman BW, Macqueen DA, Marquinez NS, Mackillop J, Bickel WK, Brandon TH.Self-control depletion and nicotine deprivation as precipitants of smoking cessation failure: A human laboratory model.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2017;85(4):381-396. doi:10.1037/ccp0000197Tice DM, Baumeister RF, Shmueli D, Muraven M.Restoring the self: Positive affect helps improve self-regulation following ego depletion.J Exp Soc Psychol. 2007;43(3):379-384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.007Agrawal N, Wen Wan E.Regulating Risk or Risking Regulation? Construal Levels and Depletion Effects in the Processing of Health Messages.J Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cheng YY, Shein PP, Chiou WB.Escaping the impulse to immediate gratification: the prospect concept promotes a future-oriented mindset, prompting an inclination towards delayed gratification.Br J Psychol. 2012;103(1):129-41. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.2011.02067.xAmerican Psychological Association.Is Willpower a Limited Resource?.Gillebaart M.The ‘Operational’ Definition of Self-Control.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1231. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01231Eyal N. Harvard Business Review.Have We Been Thinking About Willpower the Wrong Way for 30 Years?.Dang J.An updated meta-analysis of the ego depletion effect. Psychol Res. 2018;82(4):645-651. doi:10.1007/s00426-017-0862-xEvans DR, Boggero IA, Segerstrom SC.The Nature of Self-Regulatory Fatigue and “Ego Depletion”: Lessons From Physical Fatigue.Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2016;20(4):291-310. doi:10.1177/1088868315597841Muraven M, Slessareva E.Mechanisms of self-control failure: motivation and limited resources.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2003;29(7):894-906. doi:10.1177/0146167203029007008Vadillo MA, Gold N, Osman M.The bitter truth about sugar and willpower: the limited evidential value of the glucose model of ego depletion.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(9):1207-14. doi:10.1177/0956797616654911Segerstrom SC, Nes LS.Heart rate variability reflects self-regulatory strength, effort, and fatigue.Psychol Sci.2007;18(3):275-81. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01888.xMaranges, H.Ego depletion and changes in the premenstrual phase: impaired self-control as a common source.Loth KA, Goldschmidt AB, Wonderlich SA, Lavender JM, Neumark-sztainer D, Vohs KD.Could the resource depletion model of self-control help the field to better understand momentary processes that lead to binge eating?.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(11):998-1001. doi:10.1002/eat.22641Agrawal N, Wan EW.Regulating risk or risking regulation? Construal levels and depletion effects in the processing of health messages.J Assoc Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331Xu H, Bègue L, Bushman BJ.Too fatigued to care: Ego depletion, guilt, and prosocial behavior. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2012;43(5):379–384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2012.03.007Wang L, Tao T, Fan C, Gao W, Wei C.The Influence of Chronic Ego Depletion on Goal Adherence: An Experience Sampling Study.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(11):e0142220. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142220Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635Baumeister RF, Sparks EA, Stillman TF, Vohs DK.Free will in consumer behavior: Self-control, ego depletion, and choice.Journal of Consumer Psychology. 2008;18(1):4-13. doi:10.1016/j.jcps.2007.10.002Dorris DC, Power DA, Kenefick E.Investigating the effects of ego depletion on physical exercise routines of athletes.Psychol Sport Exerc.2012;13(2):118-125. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.10.004Baumeister RF.Ego Depletion and Self‐Regulation Failure: A Resource Model of Self‐Control.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27:281-284. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000060879.61384.A4Heckman BW, Macqueen DA, Marquinez NS, Mackillop J, Bickel WK, Brandon TH.Self-control depletion and nicotine deprivation as precipitants of smoking cessation failure: A human laboratory model.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2017;85(4):381-396. doi:10.1037/ccp0000197Tice DM, Baumeister RF, Shmueli D, Muraven M.Restoring the self: Positive affect helps improve self-regulation following ego depletion.J Exp Soc Psychol. 2007;43(3):379-384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.007Agrawal N, Wen Wan E.Regulating Risk or Risking Regulation? Construal Levels and Depletion Effects in the Processing of Health Messages.J Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635

Cheng YY, Shein PP, Chiou WB.Escaping the impulse to immediate gratification: the prospect concept promotes a future-oriented mindset, prompting an inclination towards delayed gratification.Br J Psychol. 2012;103(1):129-41. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.2011.02067.x

American Psychological Association.Is Willpower a Limited Resource?.

Gillebaart M.The ‘Operational’ Definition of Self-Control.Front Psychol. 2018;9:1231. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01231

Eyal N. Harvard Business Review.Have We Been Thinking About Willpower the Wrong Way for 30 Years?.

Dang J.An updated meta-analysis of the ego depletion effect. Psychol Res. 2018;82(4):645-651. doi:10.1007/s00426-017-0862-x

Evans DR, Boggero IA, Segerstrom SC.The Nature of Self-Regulatory Fatigue and “Ego Depletion”: Lessons From Physical Fatigue.Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2016;20(4):291-310. doi:10.1177/1088868315597841

Muraven M, Slessareva E.Mechanisms of self-control failure: motivation and limited resources.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2003;29(7):894-906. doi:10.1177/0146167203029007008

Vadillo MA, Gold N, Osman M.The bitter truth about sugar and willpower: the limited evidential value of the glucose model of ego depletion.Psychol Sci. 2016;27(9):1207-14. doi:10.1177/0956797616654911

Segerstrom SC, Nes LS.Heart rate variability reflects self-regulatory strength, effort, and fatigue.Psychol Sci.2007;18(3):275-81. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01888.x

Maranges, H.Ego depletion and changes in the premenstrual phase: impaired self-control as a common source.

Loth KA, Goldschmidt AB, Wonderlich SA, Lavender JM, Neumark-sztainer D, Vohs KD.Could the resource depletion model of self-control help the field to better understand momentary processes that lead to binge eating?.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(11):998-1001. doi:10.1002/eat.22641

Agrawal N, Wan EW.Regulating risk or risking regulation? Construal levels and depletion effects in the processing of health messages.J Assoc Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331

Xu H, Bègue L, Bushman BJ.Too fatigued to care: Ego depletion, guilt, and prosocial behavior. J Exp Soc Psychol. 2012;43(5):379–384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2012.03.007

Wang L, Tao T, Fan C, Gao W, Wei C.The Influence of Chronic Ego Depletion on Goal Adherence: An Experience Sampling Study.PLoS ONE. 2015;10(11):e0142220. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142220

Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635

Baumeister RF, Sparks EA, Stillman TF, Vohs DK.Free will in consumer behavior: Self-control, ego depletion, and choice.Journal of Consumer Psychology. 2008;18(1):4-13. doi:10.1016/j.jcps.2007.10.002

Dorris DC, Power DA, Kenefick E.Investigating the effects of ego depletion on physical exercise routines of athletes.Psychol Sport Exerc.2012;13(2):118-125. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.10.004

Baumeister RF.Ego Depletion and Self‐Regulation Failure: A Resource Model of Self‐Control.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003;27:281-284. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000060879.61384.A4

Heckman BW, Macqueen DA, Marquinez NS, Mackillop J, Bickel WK, Brandon TH.Self-control depletion and nicotine deprivation as precipitants of smoking cessation failure: A human laboratory model.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2017;85(4):381-396. doi:10.1037/ccp0000197

Tice DM, Baumeister RF, Shmueli D, Muraven M.Restoring the self: Positive affect helps improve self-regulation following ego depletion.

J Exp Soc Psychol. 2007;43(3):379-384. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.007

Agrawal N, Wen Wan E.Regulating Risk or Risking Regulation? Construal Levels and Depletion Effects in the Processing of Health Messages.J Consum Res. 2009;36(3):448-462. doi:10.1086/597331

Schmeichel BJ, Vohs K.Self-affirmation and self-control: Affirming core values counteracts ego depletion.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009;96(4):770-782. doi:10.1037/a0014635

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