Might You Have Decision Fatigue?

It stands to reason that these days, we might find it harder to make definitive choices. A lot is up in the air, so it’s more practical to live in the now, as opposed to planning months ahead – at least temporarily. And even then, our decisions have taken on a different weight. But what if you’re struggling to make even simple decisions? You could have what is known as ‘decision fatigue.’

It’s a term when you’re feeling overly stressed or frazzled by the endless amount of decisions you’ve had to make throughout the day – a feeling of being ‘done.’ We’ve all been there – staring at something in a supermarket for what feels like eons of time, thinking ‘how many apples do I need?’ At its simplest, this is decision fatigue.

The phrase was coined by social psychologist Roy Baumeister, who said decision fatigue is the emotional and mental strain resulting from a burden of choices. When humans are overstressed, we become hasty or shut down altogether, and that stress plays a huge role in our behaviours, including our day-to-day decisions.

What are its symptoms?

To recognise its symptoms can be tricky because they are similar to burnout, but there are some differences. There are four main symptoms: procrastination, impulsivity, avoidance and indecision. Over time, studies suggest this kind of stress can lead to irritability, increased anxiety, depression, and physical effects, such as tension headaches and digestive issues.

How can we combat it?

Simple acts will help ease the mental strain you may be feeling.

Plan ahead

Former President Obama said he basically wore the same outfit every day during his presidency to cut down on making decisions, or at least, those he can solve without using too much brainpower – a grey or blue suit. “You'll see I wear only grey or blue suits," he told Vanity Fair. "I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing, because I have too many other decisions to make."

Prioritise

It’s this attitude to it that will help. Pre-plan meals, choose outfits ahead of time – decide on what’s ‘easy’ so that you don’t cram your head full of every little thing, leaving room for bigger life decisions as needed. Jotting down your top priorities for the day and ensuring you tackle those first will cut down on endless decision-making. This way, your most important decisions get done when your energy is at its highest.

Self-care is important

Make sure you are not neglecting your self-care routines, and take time to rest by setting aside 10-minute breaks between tasks throughout the day and even though we’re all primarily working from home, don’t forget to take time to have lunch or go for a short walk throughout the day – anything to ensure you step away from your desk.

Getting enough sleep is a major part of self-care so ensure this is a priority!

Maintain unchanging routines

Set up your day so that you have to make the fewest decisions possible. This means having strict and clear rules about certain things, such as when you’ll go to sleep, specific days you’ll go to the gym or plan a workout at home and the days you’ll do any shopping.