YOUR BRAIN IS LYING TO YOU
What percentage of your daily thoughts are repetitive?
About 90%
Most thoughts are recycled patterns rather than new ideas. This is why people get stuck in the same worries or narratives—it’s not a personal failure, it’s how the brain conserves energy.
True or False: Lying awake in bed still counts as rest
Partially true
Your body rests, but your brain remains active. This is why people can feel physically rested but mentally exhausted.
What part of the brain goes offline first under stress?
Prefrontal cortex
Explanation: This part controls logic, planning, and impulse control. Under stress, survival brain takes over and thinking becomes reactive.
True or False: People think others notice them more than they do
True
Explanation: This is the spotlight effect. Most people are focused on themselves, not judging you.
Sugar activates the same reward pathway as what?
Dopamine
Explanation: Dopamine reinforces behaviors the brain finds rewarding. This is why sugar can feel compulsive.
True or False: Multitasking makes you more productive
False
The brain doesn’t multitask—it switches rapidly between tasks, which wastes time and mental energy. This leads to more mistakes, slower work, and higher stress.
What hormone increases when you don’t sleep enough and increases hunger?
Ghrelin
Explanation: Ghrelin signals hunger and cravings. Sleep deprivation increases ghrelin and decreases fullness signals, leading to overeating.
True or False: Stress always harms performance
False
Explanation: A moderate amount of stress can improve focus and performance. Too much stress, however, shuts performance down.
What is it called when people justify bad decisions instead of admitting regret?
Cognitive dissonance
Explanation: The brain dislikes inconsistency. To reduce discomfort, people rationalize decisions instead of admitting mistakes.
True or False: Willpower is unlimited
False
Explanation: Self-control decreases with fatigue, stress, and hunger. It’s a resource, not a personality trait.
What happens to decision-making after too many choices?
Decision fatigue
The more decisions you make, the worse your decisions become. This is why people are more impulsive, avoidant, or checked out later in the day.
True or False: Catching up on sleep on weekends fixes sleep debt
False
Explanation: Extra weekend sleep helps a little but doesn’t fully undo weekday deprivation. Irregular sleep schedules can actually worsen fatigue.
Chronic stress increases risk for which physical issues?
All of them
Long-term stress affects the heart, immune system, and memory. The body isn’t designed to stay in survival mode constantly.
People are more likely to help in emergencies when they are…
Alone
In groups, responsibility gets diffused. People assume someone else will act.
Cravings are more likely when blood sugar is…
Low
Explanation: Low blood sugar signals survival threat. The brain seeks quick energy sources.
True or False: Memory works like a video recording
False
Memory is reconstructed each time you recall it, not replayed. That means memories can change over time without you realizing it.
What boosts energy more long-term: caffeine or movement?
Movement
Explanation: Physical movement increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Caffeine gives a short spike, but movement improves energy more sustainably.
What is the fastest way to regulate stress in the body?
Breathing
Explanation: Slow breathing directly signals safety to the nervous system. It’s one of the few ways to calm the body from the outside in.
Which emotion spreads fastest in groups?
Anxiety
Explanation: Humans subconsciously mirror emotional cues. Anxiety spreads quickly because it signals potential danger.
What reduces cravings most effectively?
Balanced meals
Explanation: Protein, fiber, and fats stabilize blood sugar. Stable blood sugar reduces urgency-driven cravings.
What emotion most often appears before anger?
Fear or shame
Anger is often a protective emotion that shows up after vulnerability. It’s easier to feel angry than scared or ashamed.
Sleep deprivation impairs judgment similarly to what?
Being legally intoxicated
After 17–19 hours awake, reaction time and decision-making mirror alcohol impairment. People often underestimate how impaired they are.
True or False: The body reacts the same to emotional and physical threats
True
Explanation: Your body can’t tell the difference between a bear and a stressful thought. Both activate the same stress response.
People answer more honestly when responses are…
Anonymous
Explanation: Reduced fear of judgment increases honesty. This is why anonymous surveys get more truthful responses.
What mineral deficiency is linked to fatigue and irritability?
Magnesium
Explanation: Magnesium supports nerve and muscle function. Deficiency can worsen fatigue and mood issues.