How "decision fatigue" is ruining your day
/You alarm rings.
Decision 1: to snooze or not to snooze. You don't snooze! (I like you already!).
You make your coffee and walk to the washroom.
Decision 2: your phone is off (I like you more now!). To switch it on or not?
You finish your business, and start to get ready to go to the gym.
Decision 3: to eat before the workout or not?
Decision 4: what to wear?
Decision 5: which shoes to use?
Decision 6: walk or drive to the gym?
Decision 7: cardio or strength training? ok strength it it!
Decision 8: ok which strength exercises?
You're beginning to lose motivation... you make it the gym but you're not very enthusiastic anymore.
Decision 23: you get to the office: check email? return calls? work on a document?
Decision 26: do you order breakfast?
Decision 27: what to eat?
This is called "decision fatigue".
It's responsible for you not going to the gym, being late for work, being late in finishing a project, not calling a family relative in need, not saving money every month, not even being able to pick a jar of jam at the supermarket (it's too much sugar anyway!) etc.
The most successful people in the world know about "decision fatigue" and avoid that problem.
This is why Steve Jobs always wore the exact same clothes. This is why Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) does the same thing.
You start your day with a good amount of mental energy (assuming you had a good night of rest).
Each decision you have to make, no matter how small, expends mental energy.
If by 7am you've already had to make multiple decisions, you've already spent a significant amount of that mental energy, making less of it available for the rest of the day.
This sets you up to "underperform" in almost everything you're looking to achieve.
How do you fix this?
SOLUTION 1: Establish a Routine
- Establish a routine for working out: set a a fixed schedule, set 2 shorts, 2 t-shirts, 1 pair of shoes
- Establish a routine for your first 30min at work
- Establish a routine for breakfast
etc
SOLUTION 2: Make decisions the night before
- Right down on a piece of paper your workout for the next morning
- Decide what you're going to wear for work
- Plan your morning at work: what are you going to start with? then what? then what?
etc
The more routines you have and the more decisions you make "in advance", the more productive and energised you're going to be.
Do you have any other ideas on how to reduce "decision fatigue"? Share them in the comments!
