by Vickie Austin
The late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, was famous for his signature habit of wearing a simple black mock turtleneck, jeans and sneakers. He adopted this out of an admiration for Sony’s employee uniforms (an idea that backfired wildly with his own employees) but also, some say, to eliminate the necessity of making daily decisions about what to wear.
Wearing the exact same outfit every day eliminates something called “decision fatigue.”
Think of all the decisions you make during the day: what to wear, what to eat, where to go, what to do. According to a health blog published by Kaiser Permanente, decision fatigue is a sign that your gas tank is running on “low” and you need to take care of yourself.
Psychiatric social worker Leigh Miller, LCSW, describes it by saying, “As mental energy is used up, you may feel drained, increasing the likelihood of making impulsive or avoidant choices.” In other words, mistakes.
Why does it happen?
A variety of factors can lead to decision fatigue. Stress and the pressures of work, caring for loved ones or raising a family, managing finances and dealing with our own health are reasons for developing decision fatigue.
And there are so many choices! Just going down the aisle of a grocery store and picking out a brand of salsa among 20 brands can lead to a breakdown.
Procrastination is often a sign of decision fatigue, as is feeling stuck when weighing the pros and cons of a decision. Perfectionism, that hobgoblin of little minds, sneaks up on us and we become paralyzed, unable to make a decision. Some people describe it as an inability to focus or feeling as if they are walking through a fog.
Whatever the cause, and however it manifests, decision fatigue can stop us in our tracks.
Managing the mist
When you feel that you can’t see through the mist, consider these four tips:
- Create simple routines. Decisions take energy, according to Miller, so eliminating those choices along the way can lighten your load. Choose a uniform like Steve Jobs or lay out your clothes the night before. Routines turn into habits, which take less energy.
- When you create your task list, keep it short. At the very least, prioritize the top three action steps you need to take, and stay focused on those. It’s easy for tasks to beget other tasks, then you’re too pooped to even begin.
- Ask for advice. You don’t have to be the Lone Ranger when it comes to accomplishing your tasks. Look around you and ask for help. Hire people who can do what you need to have done.
- Find time for self-care. Put some gas back in that tank and move on.