Decision fatigue and how to combat it

Hello lovelies!

Decision fatigue is the significant lessing of our ability to make sound, educated choices when overloaded by potential choice. This concept ties in with decision paralysis- the longer someone has a decision hanging over their head, the less confident they will be in their conclusion.

Researchers estimate that on an average day, we make 35,000 choices. To break that statistic down further, 2000 decisions per hour or 2 decisions per second. The mere thought of so much responsibility can be paralysing. In reality, such a significant amount of brain activity can only happen in our subconscious. As people, we are not designed to have so many tabs open!

Decision fatigue can lead us to believe, falsely, that the best course of action is not to make a decision. Actively choosing not to choose, however, is still a choice. The average person will make 773,618 decisions over a lifetime and will come to regret 143,262 of them. A typical adult makes 27 judgments a day – usually starting with whether to turn off the alarm or hit snooze!

Ego depletion, a term coined by social psychologist Roy F Baumeister explores the idea that we are created with finite willpower- using up these stores of thought, mental clarity and reasoning leads to less thought out decisions. Similarly, working for extended periods of time or having to process and make decisions on complex problems forces us to eventually dip into our reserves.

This post is the third installment in my productivity series. Today we’ll be discussing ways to combat decision fatigue and mental overload through a series of simple, effective strategies. Again, it is all about priorities.

 

 

 

Simplify choices you make throughout the day

Efficient routines are often built around the conscious reduction of trivial choices. By making routine of your everyday tasks you cut down on the time and energy spent on what could be simple admin and management. A few easy ways to implement this rule include choosing in advance what you wear, keeping a capsule wardrobe, setting a meal plan for the week and scheduling in time for exercise. Your time and energy are priceless assets. When used well, they can help you to build a beautiful, vibrant life. Have you  noticed that by the end of the day you’re less focused and more willing to go along with the first option given to you? I know I have. When it comes to deciding what I want for dinner, I’ll leave it up to the rest of my family as I just don’t want to think anymore. All decisions, whether challenging or not, end up using your mental capacity. Being in a state of constant thought is tough on our brains. Even during sleep, our brains aren’t exactly in rest mode- they are on standby, processing and sorting through all that has come up during the day and then clearing out what won’t be stored in the mind. Allow your decisions and routine to be an accurate reflection of what is most important to you. Bring into your life what you need to feel enriched and reevaluate decisions that leave you unfulfilled. Leave behind all that fails to add value to your life, only contributing extra clutter.

 

Build up a momentum and focus on your willpower

As with the domino effect, one positive action that you build on will eventually create  momentum, setting the rhythm and tone for what you need to get done. Most people fall into the trap of getting discouraged when the small pushes they make towards a large, eventual goal don’t seem to get them closer to where they want to be. At this point, they tend to lose what small momentum they had. As people we have a tendency to pursue new and exciting things and to do so with vigour and energy. We ride almost entirely on surges of adrenaline and inspiration- two ultimately unsustainable driving forces that will deplete themselves as novelty wears off. Willpower does not have to be a finite resource- you can retrain your brain to think of this concept differently and subsequently prolong your productive time. Begin thinking of your work as a privilege- something you get to complete, not have to complete.

 

Do not over or under commit- delegate tasks to others when appropriate

This ties in with the point above- there is a perfect balance you need to strike in order to further build momentum without setting unrealistic expectations as to what you can reasonably achieve. The act of under committing, just like over committing, will set the tone for your work time. Unless you want to feel flustered and spread thin, this is no way to operate. A good rule of thumb is to pause before committing- if you’re looking to make an investment or take on a long term project, give yourself time to first mull it over and make sure you know what you want. It can be tempting to say yes, particularly if you consider something an opportunity, but you must always work within your capacity and refrain from over extending. When possible, work in teams and reduce the amount of time and effort you’d otherwise have to put in. My friends and I often share lesson content with each other during classes. This way we all remain up to date and can add to each other’s knowledge.

 

 

Make important decisions and lock in big projects when your motivation is at a high

We all have off days where we want nothing more than to relax at home, watch a good tv series and order takeaway. If you’re me, anyhow. I call these nothing days and I can say honestly that they’ve helped my productivity. Having set time where I am off duty and don’t have to do much reminds me there is always balance to be found. It’s important to be all the way in whether during work or play- lukewarm is no good. A subpar effort is worse than not having made an effort at all. You’d never make crucial decisions when you’re tired, so why make them when you’re feeling unmotivated? To commit to a task you have to believe in your capabilities to follow through with it and do it well. Lock in big projects when your schedule is fairly uncluttered and you know you’ll be able to dedicate full time and resources.

 

Hone in on your options and limit them accordingly

Nothing leads to overwhelm faster than having too much choice. As the saying goes, too much of anything, even good, is a bad thing. It’s important to narrow down your options in order to make better, smarter decisions that you are less likely to want to go back on. Having fewer choices doesn’t have to be boring or leave you with no room for spontaneity. It’s just a matter of discerning what can fit into a routine and be made a habit of and what will require active thought and decision in different circumstances. A nifty way to ensure decisions don’t take over your day is to set a time limit for how long you can deliberate over them. For me personally, the last few days have been spent drafting brand content. I’ve had so much time on my hands that my thoughts are still wandering to potential adjustments I could make. I know I’ve started to overthink and enter perfectionist mode when I should be happy with what I’ve created.

 

Develop routines that put low priority tasks on autopilot

Nothing leads to overwhelm faster than having too much choice. As the saying goes, too much of anything, even good, is a bad thing. It’s important to narrow down your options in order to make better, smarter decisions that you are less likely to want to go back on. Having fewer choices doesn’t have to be boring or leave you with no room for spontaneity. It’s just a matter of discerning what can fit into a routine and be made a habit of and what will require active thought and decision in different circumstances. A nifty way to ensure decisions don’t take over your day is to set a time limit for how long you can deliberate over them. For me personally, the last few days have been spent drafting brand content. I’ve had so much time on my hands that my thoughts are still wandering to potential adjustments I could make. I know I’ve started to overthink and enter perfectionist mode when I should be happy with what I’ve created.

 

 

Take time for yourself and loved ones- refill your cup by prioritising social time

Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away from work and responsibility temporarily. This is the reason bloggers and creatives take hiatuses, why people go on holiday, rebrand their content or make any major choice. Carving out space for yourself is more than just a nice idea- it is a necessity. When you take time away from work, even if it brings you enjoyment, you are giving yourself the chance to formulate new ideas and plans in anticipation of a stronger return to what it is you do. While on breaks, take time for yourself and loved ones. Go out for a family dinner, play board games, have a deep and meaningful- just prioritise connection.

 

There is no such thing as the perfect choice- give yourself grace and don’t overthink!

 It’s very unlikely that a decision you make will mean the end of the world, so give yourself room to think and act freely, within reasonable bounds. For most of us, it is easier to show others grace and empathy than it is ourselves, so this can be a learning curve. Maybe the old adage should read “do unto yourself as you would do unto others” as this is applicable in certain situations too! I believe that fate is the product of a series of human choices, whether our own or others. While certain decisions we will make in our lives carry greater weight than others, there is always the option of a do over. We are not truly living if we approach life scared and apprehensive, always wanting to have the upper hand. Not everything is in our control, nor is it up to us. There’s peace to be found in that.