Does even a simple decision feel hard? Hello Decision Fatigue.
Why do you reach the point in your day that even a simple decision feels hard? Are you making it through the full day? I’m guessing probably not. Do you wonder why this is? You’ve entered into what experts call decision fatigue. As an online business owner, It’s not a matter of if you’ll get there it’s a matter of when you’ll get there.
We jump out of bed pumped for the new day and ready to accomplish all the things. Even the most difficult decision is easy peasy to make.
But as the day creeps on they begin to feel heavy and overwhelming. Girl, do you even realize all the decisions you make for your business in just one day?
This is not even counting your personal decisions – what should I wear, another cup of coffee, I’m hungry what should I eat? All of these are decisions and they all add up!
What is Decision Fatigue
After reviewing a number of different articles regarding decision fatigue I found that they all originated from the work of Roy F. Baumeister.
The article by developgoodhabtis.com wrote:
Decision fatigue refers to the idea that your willpower or ability to make good choices deteriorates in quality after an extended period of decision making. Put simply: When you're forced to make hard decisions throughout the day, then it's easy to make bad choices near the end of the day.
Roy F. Baumeister, a social psychologist known for a wide range of work on the self, sexuality and sex differences, social rejection, motivation, and aggression, coined the term decision fatigue in reference to the decline in the quality of decisions that are made by a person after many decisions have been made in a row.
Decision Fatigue as a business owner
Do you feel this by the end of the day? Everything that you do and manage in your business adds up to a ton of decisions. When you put them together even the simple decisions by days end will have you knocking your head against the desk.
Our mind is fresh and sharp in the morning into the early afternoon. If only you could control when the important decision making pops up.
What do I do when faced with a surprise critical decision at the end of the day?
Can it wait? Can you take a few minutes to think about it? What would happen if you just stepped away from your desk and headed outside for a breath of fresh air and a quick five-minute walk?
Personally, walking on it, give me the space to let my mind wander on possible solutions. In the end, I’d rather take a few minutes to clear my mind and make a good decision vs making a rash decision because I feel the pressure to make the decision.
But, I know that you need to do you.
Little Side Note
Create a decision parking lot for all those decision that can wait and make them early in the day when your mind is fresh!
Can it wait?
Can the decision wait until the morning? Does it have to be made right this second? What is the consequence if you do not make the decision?
For all the non-critical business decisions, jot it down on a decision parking lot. This was brought to me a number of years ago and it works marvelously.
It’s so simple to keep either an electronic note on your phone that you can add to it as needed. Or create a decision parking lot in your notebook or project management system.
Stockpile these non-critical decisions to go through at one time once a week.
Instead of making them one by one, save them up and make your decisions in bulk.
What are your best solutions for decision fatigue?
What do you find are your best solutions for decision fatigue?