Individuals who believe that engaging in strenuous tasks leads to exhaustion are more likely to exhibit the ego depletion effect.

“And for people who say that no, you know, I think it's exhausting, >> then when they're asked to do the experiment, they actually show the depletion effect.”

“Though there's some evidence that people's lay beliefs about willpower might really play a key role in whether doing hard things makes you tired or whether doing hard things recharges you.”