Dealing With DECISION FATIGUE

Every single day we are forced to make hundreds of decisions, from straightforward, manageable and effortless decisions to more demanding, noteworthy and consequential ones. Not only are we faced with these countless choices but it seems, somehow, that the more options we have, the harder it is to actually MAKE a decision, let alone one that we feel entirely confident in.

Taking into account the fact that they are required in multiple areas of our life, it is no wonder that we tend to feel overwhelmed by the number of daily decisions that must be made. Whether physical, emotional or financial, it is also likely that our decisions in one area often pervade into others, thus carrying a greater degree of influence and making the choices even more troublesome to sort through.

Despite your strong persistence and desire to keep on keeping on, your inherent ability to repeatedly make the BEST choices eventually runs out and leaves you feeling depleted. This specific type of burnout has come to be known as DECISION FATIGUE and takes place when you’re overly stressed by the ENDLESS amount of decisions that you have had to make throughout your day.

Truly recognizing this feeling can generally be a challenge due to its resemblance of a deep sense of weariness. When we allow ourselves to reach this point, sadly, the END RESULT becomes one of two outcomes: a series of 1) POOR and risky decisions, one after the other, or 2) decision avoidance altogether. This is because when our mental energy begins to run low, we are less able to override basic desires and more likely to opt for whatever is easiest.

Keeping in mind that decision fatigue isn’t alway easy to identify, some tell-tale signs that might suggest you are heading down the path towards burnout include:

+ Procrastination

+ Impulsivity

+ Avoidance

+ Indecision

This kind of stress affects us more than we realize, impacting not only our behaviors but also our health, leading to sign of irritability, increased anxiety, depression and even physical effects such as tension, headaches and digestive issues.

By learning how to recognize and properly manage decision-making you can not only avoid feeling drained or shutting down, but, instead, conserve your mental energy for more meaningful tasks.

The best and most effective way to avoid falling victim to decision fatigue is by CONSCIOUSLY directing and redirecting your thoughts and actions.

TIPS FOR TACKLING DECISION FATIGUE:

+ FOCUS ON SELF-CARE: take time to rest by setting aside 10-minute breaks between tasks throughout the day, make sure you’re getting enough sleep at night, feeding your body nutritious foods and watching your alcohol and sugar intake

+ MAKE A LIST OF WHICH DECISIONS HAVE PRIORITY: cut down on the needless decision-making by jotting down your top priorities for the day and ensuring you address those first and foremost, this way, the most important decisions are being made when your energy is at its highest

+ HAVE A PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY FOR MAJOR DECISIONS: when facing major decisions, be honest and ask yourself how tired you are in the present moment, if you are simply making a decision to solve the situation in front of you, how much impact on your life the decision will have and if you are in the right mental space to be making that decision (this might mean setting aside a block of time each month to evaluate the pros and cons associated with specific decisions or reflecting on the choices made in the past and their resulting impact)

+ MINIMIZE LOW-STAKES DECISIONS: reduce decision drain by planning ahead and taking relatively minor decisions out of the equation (the less choices the better - i.e. take your lunch to work rather than having to choose a restaurant to order from, lay out your clothes the night before, etc.)

+ MAINTAIN UNCHANGING ROUTINES: set up your day so that you have to make the fewest number of decisions as possible, even if this means having strict and clear rules about certain things like when you’ll go to sleep, what days you will go to the gym or when to do your grocery shopping

+ OPT FOR HEALTHIER SNACKS: having the right nutrition can conserve your energy and help you to avoid eating that quick, easy-to-grab glucose-rich snack, ultimately improving your self-control and keeping your blood sugar from dipping low

+ ALLOW OTHERS TO HELP: sharing the mental load of decision-making and delegating tasks can prevent feelings of overwhelm

+ KEEP TABS ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH & PHYSICAL STATE: understand that everyone gets overwhelmed with decisions at times but pay close attention to your emotional and physical responses, asking yourself whether you’re repeatedly making poor choices or developing bad habits

+ CELEBRATE YOUR GOOD DECISIONS: you make so many small decisions throughout the day without even realizing it, and that’s on top of all the big, noticeable ones, therefore, it is a good idea to purposefully celebrate the work of a well-informed or positive decision and give yourself a “pat on the back”or allow yourself some extra time to unwind

All in all, if you notice you are feeling irritable, stressed, overwhelmed or lacking energy, you may in fact be dealing with decision fatigue. Take time to step back and look at all the decisions you make every day, big and small, and think about how you can take them out of the equation or make them less strenuous and more streamlined. By changing your habits and setting yourself up with the right routines, you can, without a doubt, decrease anxiety and conserve energy for decisions that deserve it and events that really matter.

Xx,

Leah Kutsch P.S. Keeping IIN Touch