What Is Decision Fatigue? (And How to Avoid It)

If you’ve never heard the term before, you may be wondering: What is decision fatigue? And have I ever experienced it?

Well, if you’ve ever felt mentally exhausted after a long day and stressed out by the prospect of choosing between two or more things (however simple), you may be experiencing decision fatigue. In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• What decision fatigue is
• The signs you have decision fatigue
• How to avoid decision fatigue

What Is Decision Fatigue?

Decision fatigue is a term used to describe the feeling you get when you are presented with too many choices, and therefore decisions, to make throughout the day. Each decision, whether it’s navigating a complex business situation or something as simple as deciding what to eat for dinner, takes up mental energy.

If you don’t get a chance to restore some of that energy, for example, by taking a break or seeking support, you can start to feel anxious, drained, and overwhelmed. This can have a significant impact on your mental and physical health as well as on your ability to make further, well-reasoned decisions.

Is There a Difference Between Decision Fatigue and Indecisiveness?

Yes, there is a difference between decision fatigue and indecisiveness.

Decision fatigue is when someone is comfortable making decisions most of the time but begins to struggle after a seemingly endless series of them.

Indecisiveness, however, is a character trait that causes someone to routinely struggle or avoid making decisions. Indecisiveness can be a symptom of low self-confidence.

Signs You Have Decision Fatigue

It’s one thing to ask what decision fatigue is, but another to recognize the symptoms. Someone experiencing decision fatigue may notice some – or all – of these symptoms:

1. Finding it hard to focus
2. Getting overwhelmed easily
3. Procrastinating on a decision
4. Being impulsive
5. Avoiding making any decisions
6. Losing your temper quickly
7. Experiencing physical issues: e.g., poor sleep, tiredness, upset stomach
8. Feeling hopeless when deciding and dissatisfied after the decision is made

How to Avoid Decision Fatigue

When you are experiencing decision fatigue, the idea of making changes to your situation can feel daunting or even hopeless. However, here are a few simple things you can do to get back on track:

• Plan your schedule. Map out a plan for your day, and stick to it as much as possible. Struggling to know what to wear for work? Lay it out the night before. Don’t know what to have for lunch? Find recipes you like and carve out some time on Sunday to batch-cook them. Although they may take time to develop, it’s worth building up these small habits to create an easy, low-stress routine.
• Take regular breaks. We don’t tend to make the best decisions when we’re tired, so it’s essential to build in some time for yourself throughout the day to unwind.
• Get your priorities in order. Different decisions require different amounts of mental energy. There are some more complex decisions – for example, the type you make at work or in relationships – and some smaller decisions – like what podcast to listen to on your commute.
  
  It helps to work out which decisions are a priority and which aren’t as important. You can then  identify which to spend your time and energy on today and which can wait until a later date. Try to avoid making too many complex decisions in one day! Naturally, our priorities will change over time, so be sure to review them every six months or so.

• Learn to be mindful. Many people think that mindfulness and meditation will take up too much time or just aren’t for them. If that’s you, good news – you can practice mindfulness in as little as 60 seconds! Taking some time (however brief) to pause, reflect, and recharge can make a really big difference to your wellbeing. Meditation can have lots of positive mental and physical effects, like reducing stress, combatting fatigue, and enhancing your focus and decision-making.
• Narrow it down. Over a 24-hour period, we shouldn’t be making more than three or four big choices. If you have too many, narrow them down to three and then pick one at random. Still stuck? Try a pros and cons list to help you deliberate objectively.
• Consider the time of day. Many people find that they have more energy in the earlier part of the day, while fatigue tends to set in during the afternoon. You could try focusing on any key projects and scheduling any important meetings for earlier in the day, while your mind is at its most refreshed. That way, you’ll have conquered the most challenging part of your day first and can take it a bit easier once you start to feel tired.
• Get support. Ask someone you trust to weigh in on or validate more difficult decisions, and delegate where you can. If fatigue is getting to you over an extended period and you feel that even the smallest decisions give you overwhelming anxiety, you might want to consider seeking professional help from your doctor or attending counseling.

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