Recently I have heard the words decision fatigue thrown around.  It pops up in other blogs and podcast.  I usually hear this phrase in reference to adults.  It is funny to me that a phrase can often just replace something that has always been around but people start to notice it more.  I believe that decision fatigue has really been a part of the lives of people for a very long time.  A regular routine can prevent decision fatigue.

What is Decision Fatigue

Decision fatigue is the inability to make good choices after making so many.  It can cause you to be unable to make rational and reasonable choices.  Let me give you an example.  After a long drive 5 hours away from home on the interstate we make a lot of decisions based on where we are going.  Like with exit to take, where to get gas and when to stop and eat.  Your mind can get downright weary.  We drove to Bristol, Tenn last week and I really did experience decision fatigue.  After the long drive and finally arriving at our hotel we went to eat. I did not care where we ate.  The decision just seemed too big and too overwhelming to make a decision about.  When we finally sat down at the restaurant the menu seemed too long and had too many choices. I ordered onion rings and water.

Do We Suffer From Decision Fatigue

That is the question asked in this article, written by John Fatierney.  He makes the claim in the fifth paragraph that ordinary people make stupid choices because of this very thing, decision fatigue.  The idea of being too tired to make another decision is so real.  I think every wife and mother understands this idea so well.  It is not that we dislike our jobs as moms, wives, lawyers, nurses, etc. , it’s just at the end of the day our brain is really tired of making so many decisions. By the time I have left my house in the morning I have made many many choices. Through out our day we make 100’s.

So What Can I Do To Help Myself

Develop a Routine 

This may sound so simple, yet we have to give it real thought.  What can I do the same way each day and everyday to prevent Decision Fatigue?  If you have too many choices to make in a day reduce them. Routines are great for toddlers because they do not have to make so many choices.  Routines are also good for adults because we do not have to make so many choices. Once you set up your routine you will want to live by it all the time.  It will help so much.

How Will A Routine Help

The first thing it will do is cut the number of decisions you have to make daily.  You may ask yourself, “well how is it going to do that?”  Just think about your morning that has not been thought out or planned out.  How many questions can you be asked and ask yourself before you step out the door.  Some examples at my house are, “What’s for breakfast?  Can I wear this? Does this match? Where is my book bag? Where are my tennis shoes? Can we do lunch together? What time will you be home?” See how many things you are asked before you have even gone to work or left the house.  Just writing them is exhausting.  It can start to feel like Dr Seuss lives here and it is going to get crazy.

 

Take the Steps To Reduce Decision Fatigue Now

1. Lay out clothing out the night before.
2. Prepare lunches after everyone has gone to bed
3. Do a walk through on your way to bed and pick things up.
4. Put away as much as you can before you go to bed.
5. Decide what is for supper tomorrow night.

The list could be exhaustive.

Start everything 30 minutes earlier than you thought you would!

By reducing the number of decisions you have to make throughout the day your evening will benefit from it.  So will your family.  I would rather take care of those things that are really routine so I feel like answering the questions that really matter. I want to enjoy answering some questions, like when my husband asks how my day went.  I won’t feel like biting his head off for no good reason.  I want to smile back at him and say, “pretty good.”

I may seem like a simple plan but I promise you it can make your day filled with decisions a lot less stressful.  Then next time you run into the coffee shop and they ask you those ridiculous questions you can answer without getting irritated.  You can say, “I want a Venti, skinny, sugar free caramel macchioto, with whip cream and not feel totally overwhelmed with decisions.  Honestly, Janet