Decision Fatigue is Sabotaging Your Efforts

Have you ever been so proud of yourself for staying on track all day, only to suddenly find yourself on the couch in the evening eating a bowl of ice cream and forgoing the workout you had intended on doing? You can blame decision fatigue for this sudden lapse in willpower. ​

What is Decision Fatigue?

Studies show that the more decisions you make over the course of a day, the harder it is to use your willpower or self control later on. So after a long day at work, a fun afternoon at the lake, or you’re feeling especially stressed, it’s particularly difficult to make choices: like choosing between going for a walk or watching Friends reruns. The path of least resistance tends to win. 
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While decision fatigue is bad for maintaining our habits and momentum, knowing that it exists means we can set ourselves up for success before it happens… and find ways to stay on track when it does.

Outsmarting Decision Fatigue

Some days are just going to be longer or more stressful than others, and we can’t always see decision fatigue coming. By taking unnecessary daily choices out of the equation, we can save our decision-making power for the choices that matter (like to drink a glass of water or pour another coffee). 

This means planning ahead for things we know are coming. Such as: 
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• Take out your workout clothes the night before, if you want to exercise in the morning. 
• Mark your favorite guided meditations, so you don’t have to search for them every time. 
• Plan and prep your meals ahead of time, so you don’t end up with take-out again. I use Real Plans to make our family’s dinner planning a breeze.
• Schedule your day to take the guesswork out of “what to do next”.
• Build good habits around the behaviors you want to see, so eventually you don’t need to think about them at all. 

This last one is one of my favorites! Habits are super helpful since, by design, we start to do things without much thought. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning? Done. Family walk after dinner? Everyone just puts their shoes on, and out we go! Journaling before bed? With your pen and notebook on your pillow, you hop into bed and start writing.

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When Decision Fatigue Pops Up Anyway

Since we can’t plan for everything (and we probably shouldn’t!) how do you manage when decision fatigue has set in and you are tempted to write the rest of the day off? Now that you know what is happening, it’s time for a little self-care. 
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• Take fifteen minutes, and read a chapter of your book.
• Putter around your garden and get some fresh air. 
• Brew up some herbal tea, and snuggle with the cat for a bit
• Put on some relaxing or uplifting music to shift your mood
• Eat a healthy snack like an apple with nut butter for an energy boost

​After you “fill your cup” a bit, it may be easier to get yourself back on track. If not, that’s okay too. I give you permission to put on the comfy pants and watch a movie if that’s what you need after a rough day.
 
And if you’re finding yourself exhausted and veering off track too often, that’s what I’m here for.