35,000.
No, that’s not the price of an entry-level electric vehicle or the cost of a semester in college. 35,000 is the estimated number of decisions the average person makes in a day. Yikes!
Okay, Today I have to review this proposal and make some changes, jump on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting, pick up dry cleaning, and help Mason with his engineering project. Tonight, I can figure out the calendar for the rest of the month, get the meat in marinade for the party weekend, pay a couple of bills, and then bed! Shoot! No, I need to get to the gym too – don’t I? Ugh, I’m Just. So. Tired! Why can’t I offload all this, eat a bag of tacos, and pass out on the couch?
Sound familiar? For most of us, some version of this does.
These mental gyrations are a regular occurrence for many and are an example of the kind of internal monologue that represents decision fatigue.
What Is Decision Fatigue?
If you find yourself having to make constant decisions (big and small) all day long, at some point, you’re likely to suffer from decision fatigue.
Decision fatigue is a psychological condition that occurs when your responsibilities and their associated decisions become mentally exhausting. Simply put, your brain becomes tired from the constant need to make daily choices.
This phenomenon can affect anyone. From stay-at-home parents to the most successful business leaders, decision fatigue can decrease willpower and decision-making ability, not to mention leading to avoidance behavior like eating a bag of tacos and hiding from the world.
While not a formal medical diagnosis, the concept of decision fatigue has been studied extensively in recent years, with researchers finding that it can significantly affect our daily lives.
What Causes Decision Fatigue?
It seems simple, right? The cause of decision fatigue is having too many decisions to make.
While that’s true, it goes a bit deeper than that.
Let’s start with the fundamental decisions we’re faced with daily.
- What to wear
- What to eat
- Parenting decisions
- Household decisions
- Decisions related to our relationships
Over time just these basic decisions can begin to feel like a lot.
Now add in decisions regarding,
- Conflict resolution, purchasing options, customer issues, strategy.
- Where to cut, what to spend, investments, budget, savings.
- Health. Finding time for exercise, the right food choices, doctor appointments, and routine screenings.
Next, let’s consider the complexity of the decisions we make.
Most of our daily decisions are routine. Some may even be unconsciously made as though there were no choices (you aren’t required to have coffee every morning).
It shouldn’t be any surprise that with 35,000 decisions in a day, not all are created equal. Each category requiring decision-making will contain easy and hard choices.
- Navy blazer or golf shirt and khakis? Is this too casual or the right amount?
- Punish my son for bad grades or be sympathetic and hire a tutor? Can we afford a tutor?
- New water heater or new air-conditioner? Should I finance both?
- Fire Jim or put him on a performance improvement plan?
- Discuss marital frustration or leave it alone?
When faced with increasingly difficult or complex choices, our brains work harder to process information and develop solutions. This can be incredibly taxing when dealing with a multitude of important career, finances, and family decisions.
Finally, decision fatigue can also be influenced by external factors such as,
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Poor nutrition
- Lack of exercise
When our bodies are not functioning at their best, it’s more difficult for our brains to make good decisions, and it lowers the bar for what feels overwhelming. Suddenly, the decision between sport coat or golf shirt is enough to make you cry in your taco.
Seeing The Signs Of Decision Fatigue
Most of us can feel it when something’s off. If deciding whether or not to shower before bed or not feels like a monumental decision, you know your brain needs a break.
But before we ever get to the point of wanting to lie down with that bag of tacos and shut out the world, there are other signs that decision fatigue is setting in.
Some of the more common signs of decision fatigue include:
- Feeling easily confused
- Decision avoidance
- Inability to make decisions
- Reliance on external decision-making vices (flipping a coin)
- Procrastination
- Impulsive decision making
- Quick temper and becoming easily frustrated
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Desire to hide
- Making poor decisions
It’s important to note that physical symptoms like headaches and digestive issues can also present as both a sign and consequence of decision fatigue.
Effects Of Decision Fatigue
Unresolved decision fatigue will eventually take a toll on many aspects of your life.
In your personal life decision fatigue can lead to unhealthy eating habits or neglecting exercise. It can also negatively affect relationships by causing people to refrain from making or participating in important decisions or becoming unduly irritable and short-tempered toward those they love.
Decision fatigue can result in subpar work performance, missed deadlines, and decreased productivity in professional life. It can also lead to burnout.
Additionally, decision fatigue can cause lower creativity. When we’re constantly making decisions throughout the day, our mental energy depletes, leaving us with less capacity for problem-solving and innovation.
Indecisiveness may also result in impulsive or irrational choices that don’t align with your values or long-term goals.
Deciding How To Cope
The last thing you want to do when dealing with decision fatigue is decide how to cope. But without addressing things, nothing will change, and fatigue will continue, as well as its effects.
The following tips can help you manage and resolve your decision fatigue:
- Prioritize your decisions by importance and urgency. This will help you focus on the most critical decisions and avoid wasting time on trivial ones.
- Delegate some of your decision-making responsibilities to others if possible. This can help reduce the number of decisions you must make daily.
- Take breaks throughout the day to recharge your mental energy. Engage in activities that relax your mind, such as meditation or exercise.
- Simplify your choices by limiting options where possible.
- Establish routines for repetitive tasks so that they become automatic and require less mental effort.
These strategies can help you cope with decision fatigue and improve your overall well-being and productivity.
Decision fatigue is a more complex issue than it may seem. Making 35,000 decisions daily requires careful attention and management to avoid negative consequences. But by understanding its causes and taking steps to reduce its impact on our lives, we can make better decisions and live happier, more fulfilling lives.
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https://www.guystuffcounseling.com/counseling-men-blog/bid/87269/what-causes-anger-issues-in-men
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