5 Ways to Tackle Decision Fatigue Effectively

Welcome to Authentic Living with Linda
I’m Linda Codlin

Welcome, My Friends.

What do you do when life feels too overwhelming?
There is this thing called decision fatigue.

What is decision fatigue?

Decision fatigue is where your brain gets really tired, because you have been making decisions all day.
It’s a bit like your body getting tired after doing physical activity for any length of time, your brain also gets tired, and when your brain is tired it becomes more difficult to make good choices, to think straight and make quick decisions.
When you are in the middle of feeling decision fatigue, you may feel foggy, overwhelmed, and even snappy at others who are asking for guidance in the simple things.

This has been my reality this week, every day at the end of the day, I am weary from making decisions.
I find I delay making a decision from the fear of making a wrong one.
We have moved house, and as anyone who has moved house knows, there are a lot of decisions to be made.
For every box that is opened, there is a decision to be made. Some are simple, the items dictate where they go.
Others are not so easy, I have been making piles of similar items that don’t seem to have a place to go, and then in the morning I make myself decide where to put them, and put them there.
If I leave it to later on in the day, I just don’t have the emotional band width to decide.

Here are 5 ways I have been working through the mental fatigue of the last week.

1. Make a list.
   I write down everything in my brain.
   Clearing out the clutter in my mind, writing out all the things that are worrying me, being honest about what is important right now.
   This week my list has seemed to be running on repeat, the same thought are circulating in my brain, by writing them down I get to see what I’m thinking and why, and then ask if it is serving me and what I want to get done.
   I write out a list of all the things I would like to achieve in a day, I put it all on paper.
   Then I get to decide, which if any I want to accomplish, or which is important in the long term verses what is seemingly urgent now.
   I ask myself, ” What is causing the greatest stress today?”
   Then I do that thing first, so it is off my plate.
2. Take a break, have a breather.
   Go for a five minute walk up the stairs, get some fresh air, leave the phone on the desk and do something that you consider to be fun, or relaxing.
   Maybe you could shift gears for a while, if you are working on the computer, maybe you could hang out washing, or bring it in and fold it.
   Do something that is unrelated to what is creating the decision overload.
   I have been cleaning windows, both inside and outside, and finding it most gratifying. A sparkling window is such a thing of joy.
   What activity that is completely unrelated to your stress, can you perform and enjoy, then look at it once it is complete and feel the joy and satisfaction of a job well done?
3. Plan ahead.
   If you can plan in advance do it.
   Plan what you will wear tomorrow, tonight before going to bed.
   Plan what you will have for dinner the night ahead, and do some of the prep ahead of time. Or plan to use the crockpot, make an easy meal.
   Reduce your stress, if it’s something you do often or daily, try to compound it and make one decision for multiple days.
   Create a list plan of what your morning routine looks like, or what you want it to look like, then all you have to do is show up for it, and tick it off when complete.
   I like to write my intention for the next day, at night.
   I might include household tasks, or personal cares, or an attitude I want to create.
   My intention helps me to set my thoughts in the morning, they also help me to stay on track, and if I do detour they help to bring me in alignment to myself quicker than if I don’t have my intentions set.
4. Ask for help.
   It is okay to ask for help, or guidance.
   Your asking could be as simple as, “What do you prefer, the blue or the red dress?”
   Or it could be as complex as seeking clarification on a part of a project you are working on.
   Asking others for their input can help you to gain you own clarity on a decision that needs to be made. One way or the other, the other persons opinion might spark a thought or an idea within you.
   I believe this is why coaching is so important, it is another persons way of seeing the world, and it may spark a deeply held belief that wouldn’t have been recognised without a conversation.
   Ask for help, ask for input, ask people’s opinions. You get the final say in the end.
   And you might just find you already knew the response, you just needed the confidence to own it.
5. Make simple choices.
   Stop over complicating things.
   On my computer is a question I ask myself every day. “How can I make this easy and effortless?” “How would easy feel?” “What would effortless look like?”
   Trying to keep the daily and mundane decisions you’re having to make as simple as possible gives you the brain space to make important decisions when needed.
   I make simple decisions when it comes to meals early in the day. I really dislike the 4pm question of what shall we have for dinner. At this time of the day, I don’t want to decide, and I don’t want the meal to be complicated, I want easy, tasty and relatively healthy, which doesn’t happen if I’m feeling pressured and tired.
   Keep your before bed routine simple, and make sure you are going to bed early enough to get quality sleep, this helps your brain to reset.
   Keep your morning routine simple.
   When you are at work make a simple list of the most important things that have to be completed that day.
   Keep your breaks simple, walk the stairs, walk around the block.
   Keep your plans simple and easy to follow. Create check lists to eliminate decision making.
   Simplicity is actually harder than it seems, because we are trained to make things look complicated. Take the easiest route possible to your goals.

So, these five steps will help with feeling the sensation of decision fatigue.
Always take care of yourself, your mental health is your responsibility, your physical health and wellbeing is also your responsibility.
If you are struggling to manage your emotions, your time, or your ability to make decisions, reach out to someone you trust and share your true feelings with them.

As a coach, I also am able to help you manage your feelings of decision fatigue, overwhelm and stress.
My details are below if you wish to contact me for a free 30 minute complimentary discovery call.

Until next time: When you are feeling like making a decision is too hard, ask yourself, “How can I make this easy and effortless?” Where can I fit in a five minute break to move my body, or to rest my body and create a shift in my energy?
What can I do to plan ahead? What do I do often that can be combined for ease?
Who can I ask to help me to gain clarity around the decision I am required to make?

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