What is decision fatigue you ask....Well let me break it down….
Decision fatigue is a state of mental overload that can impede our ability to make additional decisions. A more simplified way to explain this is that decision fatigue refers to the mental exhaustion a person experiences after making a lot of decisions. And essentially it is the assumption that the less decisions you have to make the less exhausted or overwhelmed you will feel. Psychologists consider decision fatigue the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision making.

A question many ask is what is the difference between decision fatigue and indecisiveness. Indecisiveness has actually been linked with low self esteem. Whereas decision fatigue usually sets in after you have made so many decisions and feel overwhelmed.

Decisions have always overwhelmed me, but I could not put my finger on why 

until I learned about decision fatigue.

I spent the last 24 hours counting the number of decisions I had to make. From small to big- I lost count about 3 hours into the day, but I do know by that point I had to make over 20 decisions- from what shirt I should wear, to what to eat for breakfast, whether to order lunch or carry out and what order to return calls back and check emails.

Needless to say making decisions back to back is exhausting. About a year ago I started to do some research on this topic and learned that many intelligent people (i.e. Steve Jobs and Barack Obama and so many others) work intentionally to cut out their small decisions to save room to make healthy big decisions.

In fact, the outfit that employees wear when working at Apple is based on the "simple" clothing that Steve Jobs wore.

Have you ever noticed that Barack Obama had on pretty much the same suit?

Having fewer decisions to make each day could be life changing.

After doing some of my own research I started to deeply consider what options had as a single mom who wears hats galore. So today I want to share some simple strategies you can implement to avoid decision fatigue.

Signs you're struggling with decision fatigue

1. Inability to think clearly or focus.

2. Procrastinating or spending a lot of time trying to make the decisions

3. Trying to avoid decisions

4. Being irritable due to the overwhelmed

5. Making impulsive decisions

6. Not trusting yourself or your decision making capability

7. Constant feeling that you made the wrong decision

If you answered yes to more than half of these questions you are likely struggling with decision fatigue..

The good news is you don't have to stay stuck in the struggle. So let's talk about how to work through decision fatigue

1. Make your biggest decisions earlier in the day when you're energized and focused.

2. Try to eliminate decision making when possible. (For example meal prepping at the beginning of the week prevents you from having to decide what to make for dinner every night.)

3. Build breaks into your day. I have an alarm on my phone that goes off 2x per day and it says "am I creating from a place of joy or a place of stress" this alarm serves as a gentle reminder to check in with myself and get in touch with what I need in that moment.

4. Get a partner or good friend to weigh in. For me, with an undefined ajna and head center (human design) getting that time to talk it out and get support is extremely freeing and helpful. So get support when you can.

5. Consider writing out a pro's and con's list when you have to make a major decision. This will help you to think it through and reduce the likelihood that you will regret the decision later.

6. When you feel tempted to make a rash or impulsive decision give yourself a chance to take a break.

7. Create and commit to a set routine. Implementing this structure will help you to save time, while simultaneously bringing a sense of consistency in your life. It will also eliminate the need for you to make decisions for some of your basic and routine tasks. Plus your brain loves that consistency.

8. Reflect on past experiences. Sometimes the inability to make a decision is rooted in the fact that you don't trust yourself based on past decisions . One strategy I have found to be exceptionally helpful is to reflect on decisions I have made in the past that were good. I also will look at the ones that were hard, but what I learned from them. This experience and activity always gives me the boost of confidence and energy I need to make decisions both big and small.

9. This may be the most difficult, yet most important- after you make your decision do not waiver. Trust yourself, and trust the process. Ultimately no decision is "wrong" because it's at bare minimum teaching you something. Embrace your power to make healthy decisions and move forward. I have learned the more I trust myself-the better decisions I am starting to make.

Regardless of how strong, hardworking or disciplined you are, your ability to make the best choices can eventually run out due to decision fatigue. : This is why it’s important to not only identify decision fatigue, but to make sense of it can save you a lot of energy emotionally, but can also conserve your time.