Take a second and think about the amount of decision you have to make daily. From the time you open your eyes in the morning, to the time you close them again at the end of the night. *Eyes open* Do I get out of bed, or do I snooze? Should I check my social media apps, or start my day? What do I have to do today? What am I going to wear?
No, all decisions that you make throughout the day are not equally important. Some may be serious, and others trivial. Most don’t know that humans actually don’t have the capacity to make so many decisions throughout the day. The decisions that we are making earlier in the day, are easier to make than those made later in the day.
Decision Fatigue
This idea is known as decision fatigue. Decision fatigue is the condition where making decisions in the present, will decease ones ability to make decisions later in the day.
John Tierny, a coauthor of the NY Best Seller “Willpower”, stated:
“Decision fatigue helps explain why ordinarily sensible people get angry at colleagues and families, splurge on clothes, buy junk food at the supermarket and can’t resist the dealer’s offer to rustproof their new car. No matter how rational and high-minded you try to be, you can’t make decision after decision without paying a biological price. It’s different from ordinary physical fatigue – you’re not consciously aware of being tired – but you’re low on mental energy.”
This is why some individuals who are in important positions, Steve Jobs and Barack Obama, will wear similar clothes everyday. Spending less time on a decision such as what to wear for the day, decreases this decision fatigue. In turn it saves decision-making energy for other decisions.
So do I have to wear the same outfit everyday?
No, this does not mean you have to wear the same outfit everyday. There are other ways to keep your mind revved up for decisions later in the day.
Some other habits you can consider to help with making decisions throughout the day include the following:
- Exercising at the same time everyday
- Doing grocery shopping the same time each week
- Keeping some of the meals you’re having everyday the same
- Designing a morning routine to follow
So save your brain power for more important decisions! Decrease the amount of time you spend during the day making decisions, so decisions are better made.
Article written by GUADS member Breanna, with contributions from linkedin.com
