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MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

Is spring break in a pandemic giving you decision fatigue?  

A sign on a retaining wall.
For lighter moments during the coronavirus pandemic, passersby had an opportunity to vote for their stay-at-home spring break moments on the retaining wall of a home on April 2, 2020, in St. Paul.
Jim Mone | AP Photo 2020

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The pandemic has created decision fatigue for many people. 

With more of the population vaccinated and COVID-19 cases declining, many people are thinking about resuming normal activity, despite the warnings from public health officials about new variants while many people are still unvaccinated. 

Assessing risks and weighing options is mentally exhausting, especially in a constantly changing environment. Behavior scientists say that brain fog you’re feeling is real. 

The latest set of decisions many people face is how to handle spring break. Do you travel even while the CDC still advises no travel?  The Metropolitan Airport Commission says more than 23,000 people flew out of MSP Airport on March 4, well below the numbers in a typical March but still setting a record for one-day traffic during the pandemic. Even more travelers are expected in weeks to come. 

People are also weighing the relative risk of driving and staying in a hotel versus a rental. They’re deciding when to get a COVID-19 test and whether it’s safe to visit an older relative who just got vaccinated. Or, they’re staying home and trying to find something safe to keep kids busy during spring break.

MPR News host Angela Davis talked to a behavioral scientist and a mom blogger about why making plans in the pandemic is mentally exhausting. 

Guests:

  • Kathleen Vohs is a marketing professor in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. 

  • Nicki Brunner blogs about adventure and travel with her three children at minnemamaadventures.com.

Use the audio player above to listen to the program.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.