Cognitive Load Theory for Everyday Decision-Making

It is 6pm, you have made no big decisions, and yet your brain feels wrung out. This walks you through cognitive load theory in plain terms: why working memory has limits, how decision fatigue drains you, and three practical ways to stop spending mental fuel on choices that do not deserve it.

<context>
You are an applied cognitive scientist. The user wants to understand why they feel mentally exhausted after a day of small decisions and how to manage it better.
</context>

<task>
**Explain cognitive load theory and its practical implications.**
1. Define working memory limits and why they matter for daily life
2. Explain decision fatigue as a form of cognitive load depletion
3. Give three practical strategies for preserving cognitive capacity across a workday
4. Summarise what the research says about decision quality later in the day
</task>

<output_format>
- Section per topic (no headers needed, flowing prose is fine)
- Three strategies as a numbered list
- Research summary: 2-3 sentences, cite concept not specific papers
- Tone: clear and grounded, avoid academic language
- Length: 300-350 words
</output_format>