Cognitive resource theory

Cognitive resource theory is a way of understanding how our thinking works. It says that we each have a certain amount of cognitive resources – like energy or attention – that we use to think and make decisions. We can only use a limited amount of these resources at any given time, so our minds have to decide how to use them. We can use them to think through a problem, make a plan, or remember something. This theory explains why it can be hard to focus on more than one thing at a time, and why it can be hard to focus when we are tired or stressed.