📘 Study Companion & Vocabulary

Vocabulary List (with Definitions + Examples)

1. Overwhelm – to feel too much stress or emotion.
   E.g. I felt overwhelmed by all the decisions I had to make.
2. Routine – a regular way of doing things.
   E.g. Having a morning routine can help reduce stress.
3. Mental energy – the brainpower or focus you use to think.
   E.g. Too many choices in the morning use up your mental energy.
4. Default – something you do automatically or by habit.
   E.g. I always choose the same lunch by default.
5. Streamline – to make something simpler or more efficient.
   E.g. We streamlined our tasks to save time.

Listening Comprehension Questions

1. What is decision fatigue?
2. Why do people feel tired even after simple choices?
3. What is a helpful morning habit mentioned in the episode?
4. How does technology increase decision fatigue?
5. What did the guest speaker say about their work routine?
6. Why are routines helpful?
7. What is a “default decision”?
8. How can people avoid decision fatigue?
9. What role do emotions play in decision-making?
10. What’s one small tip from the episode that you could try?

Grammar Focus: Modal Verbs & Noun Phrases

Modal Verbs:

• Should, must, could, might
• E.g. You should create a simple routine.
• E.g. You must give your brain time to rest.

Noun Phrases:

• a useful mental routine
• small daily decisions
• long-term mental health
  Practice Sentences (Fill-in-the-blank):

1. I ___ set a fixed time for bedtime.
2. She created ___ to help with stress.
3. You ___ try choosing your clothes the night before.
4. Too many ___ can feel overwhelming.
5. We ___ all benefit from fewer distractions.

Discussion Questions

• Do you ever feel tired after making lots of decisions?
• What is one small choice you often find difficult?
• Do you follow a daily routine? Why or why not?
• How do you think smartphones affect decision-making?
• Would you like to try limiting your daily choices?

Reflection Activity

📝 Write a short paragraph about a day when you felt mentally exhausted.
🧠 Try planning your next morning the night before:
• What will you wear?
• What will you eat for breakfast?
• What are your top 3 tasks?