Decisions drain our energy.
A variety of sources suggest that we make 33,000-35,000 decisions a day.
Many of the choices we don’t even realize we are making.
Yet, each one takes mental power to execute.
When we reduce the number of decisions, we have more energy reserves.
We can focus that energy on the big, complicated choices the day presents.
Below are some ideas for combating decision fatigue.
Habits & Routines
Prepare Ahead: Do activities that our future self will thank us for. For example, get coffee ready at night to just push the button in the morning or lay out exercise clothes to make workouts easy.
Automate: Take daily or weekly tasks and make them automatic. Examples would include subscription services for household staples, automatic bill pay, and recurring grocery delivery for all the staple items.
Take Breaks: Strategically rest to avoid decision fatigue. After a deep work session, plan some downtime to regain the mental energy for the next set of choices.
Reducing Choice
Templates: For areas of our life that consistently present choice, we can use “templates”. Examples would include outfit formulas, email templates for common responses, and a repetitive, yet flexible meal plan for weekdays (i.e. Taco Tuesday).
Default Choices: Knowing what we “always choose”. While we could change our mind, this default makes it easy when you don’t want to choose. Examples include go-to workout routines, lunch orders at our favorite spots, and a standard gift choice for weddings & graduations.
Pre-Commit: Remove future decisions by deciding in advance. Examples include using a capsule wardrobe, setting a standing lunch location with friends on a specific date each month, and set & forget the workout schedule.
Making Decisions
Two Minute Rule: If a decision can be made in less than two minutes, do it now. This helps avoid overthinking low stakes choices like what type of coffee to buy.
Batch: Plan and schedule time for decision making to handle everything at once. During this time, we could plan a week of meals and outfits, answer emails, or handle errands in just one trip.
Clear Criteria: Have decision rules to make the process smoother. Set a maximum number of options to consider, use checklists for quick go/no-go decisions, and don’t overanalyze minor decisions.
No Lingering: The longer decisions sit unresolved, the more mental energy that is drained. Set a deadline for decisions, limit re-evaluating, and use a parking lot if the decision isn’t urgent. If 80% of the info needed to choose exists, make the call. Waiting for perfection wastes time.
Delegate: Can the decision be made by someone else? If so, pass it on. Let someone else choose the restaurant, leverage a personal shopper, or assign work decisions to a team member.
Your Turn
Do you feel the weight of decision fatigue in your days?
Which techniques above seem like they would work best for you?
How could you try one this week to see if it helps reduce the drain?