Ever felt bogged down by too many choices? You might be deciding which college to attend or whether to take a job in a new location, all while tackling everyday choices about which meals to make and when to attend your exercise class.
An overwhelming amount of choices can leave you feeling tired and unable to make thoughtful decisions. This state of exhaustion and poor judgment is called decision fatigue. When you’re feeling overwhelmed about something as simple as which cereal to have for breakfast, making more important choices about work and school can feel all the more daunting.
Luckily, this quick guide explains everything you need to know about decision fatigue. That way, you can feel energized to make the best choices for yourself.
Signs of Decision Fatigue
If you’re exhausted by the choices you have to make, there’s a good chance you could be suffering from decision fatigue. To be sure, here are the symptoms you should know:
- Little motivation: The need to make important choices can leave you feeling unmotivated to decide on even the simplest things, like which shirt to wear or which dinner to make.
- Lack of clarity: When there are so many choices to make, you may find yourself feeling brain fog, which can worsen memory and increase confusion.
- Indecisiveness: In some cases, the exhaustion from too many choices leaves you unable to decide on anything, regardless of the importance of the choice.
Tips for Decision Fatigue
Although decision fatigue can make you feel like choices will always be a source of stress, there are several ways to overcome it. Check out these tips if you’re feeling exhausted from too many choices:
- Get into a routine: Forming daily routines that include exactly what you’ll eat and when you’ll accomplish each task can eliminate everyday choices from your plate.
- Practice self-care: When you’re overwhelmed, self-care habits like going for a walk, making your favorite dessert, or taking a bubble bath can help you feel refreshed.
- Start with the big things: Since you may not have as much energy later in the day, it’s helpful to prioritize more important decisions earlier.
- Improve your lifestyle: If you feel tired or hungry when trying to make choices, try eating a snack or getting more sleep so you can make informed decisions and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Don’t look back: When you begin making decisions, try your best to avoid feeling any regret and instead just focus on the future.
Dealing with decision fatigue can leave you feeling unmotivated and unable to think clearly. However, by understanding the signs and learning a handful of tips, you can beat decision fatigue and start making choices with confidence.
Interested in learning more about decision fatigue? Check out the infographic below.
