Thinking Can Be a Pain, According to Study #

A recent study found that mental effort can be unpleasant and lead to feelings of annoyance, frustration, and stress. The study involved more than 4,500 participants from 29 countries who performed various cognitive tasks. Even when presented with enjoyable tasks like puzzles or virtual reality games, participants still reported negative feelings associated with mental effort. The study suggests that the aversive nature of mental effort may explain why people choose physical pain over mental strain. To make mental effort more enjoyable, experts recommend taking regular breaks, practicing self-care, and showing compassion towards oneself and others.