Decision Fatigue

If we’re standing in line at an ice-cream parlor, the number of flavors can become overwhelming. The creativity of flavors, as well as the incredible taste, makes deciding what to select a hard, almost impossible decision. Upon entering the ice cream parlor, there is always a favorite on your mind, one that seems to resonate the most with your taste buds. Then, standing in the line, observing the different flavors, doubt enters, as we ask ourselves the question: “Do I really want vanilla? Maybe I should try something else.” Back and forth, our minds race, until finally getting to the head of the line and the moment of truth arrives. What’s the decision?

Each day we face decision after decision. At times, they can become overwhelming as we must make some instantly. What should I do first when I arrive at the office? What should I have for lunch? When should I work out? Each decision stacks upon each other, and before long, we end up with decision fatigue. Candy, snacks, and gossip magazines are placed near the market register at stores to take advantage of it. Supermarkets and retailers take advantage of our fatigue. Florida State University social psychologist Dr. Roy Baumeister has also found that it is directly tied to low glucose levels and that replenishing it restores the ability to make effective decisions.

Stanford University Professor of Psychology Dr. Carol Dweck found “that while decision fatigue does occur, it primarily affects those who believe that willpower runs out quickly.” She states that “people get fatigued or depleted after a taxing task only when they believe that willpower is a limited resource, but not when they believe it’s not so limited.” She notes that “in some cases, the people who believe that willpower is not so limited perform better after a taxing task.”

So how can we prevent this problem that seems to haunt many of us? The most crucial step is to develop our own individual morning routine. Starting the day with the fewest number of decisions to make helps us have the energy and focus when a critical decision becomes needed. Jeff Bezos only schedules meetings in the mid-morning that require his decision-making talents. He never allows those meetings to be held in the afternoon, as this prevents him from facing decision fatigue. He works his calendar around avoiding decision fatigue, which is the same way people strengthen their will power. For example, if we want to lose weight, we don’t eat ice cream, so we don’t buy ice cream at the store. By not having ice cream near our fingertips, we don’t have to worry about our will power, as the absence of ice creams keeps us from having to fight off the cravings. The same effect applies when scheduling our day. We need to plan our day around understanding when we need to be at our optimum best when it comes to making decisions.

Our calendar holds the key to making better decisions. When starting our morning at home or in the office, let’s schedule events and not allow anyone to interfere with these time slots. The calendar says NO when you don’t have the will power. And we must always plan our day when we are the freshest with the most will power.

Better decision making starts with making fewer decisions.

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