How To Manage Your Decision Fatigue
I read a facebook post on a group called Flexible Working People from a woman who was back at back after maternity leave and was struggling with all the “stuff” she had to do and was reaching out for advice and top tips. It’s a great community of over 45,000 people, I would guess mostly women and the support she has was amazing. From practical solutions to a crescendo of emotional high fives, it was amazing.
Obviously there were the usual recommendations of get a cleaner (obvs) to get food delivered: Hello Fresh, Gusto etc, but the one that stood out for me was the helpful post sharing that one woman only has black socks, as it’s one less thing to have to think about and decide about in the morning.
It got me thinking about Decision Fatigue and how exhausting it can be and how to provide some practical, simple and inexpensive solutions.
I recognise this is a HUGE topic, so for now let’s call this #take1 and I’ll revisit it again soon.
If you’re busy, too busy and you’re tired of spinning plates (aren’t we all) then your are probably overwhelmed by the sheer number of decisions you have to make every single dam day!
I know, I know I can hear you screaming – that’s just life isn’t it???
But I do think some people wearing BUSY as a badge of honour and we seem to be drowning in a tidal wave of burnout.
Could the answer be as simple as reducing and simplifying the number of decisions you have to make every day? Choosing which doors to open and which to ignore.
From what you wear to what you eat. I know it’s so dull and repetitive but it does take up so much time and energy.
Did you know that the average couple argues 156 times every year over where to order dinner from, according to new research. Now I am not suggesting you food prep like a boss, like all those Instagram celebrities with their lined up plastic containers, food prepping the week. But I am gently suggesting that more structure would help.
- Successful people tend to establish a uniform for themselves as it can increase their productivity.
- By making a habit of dressing the same each day, you save time on decision making.
- This means that you will have more mental energy to channel into advantageous pursuits and personal growth.
“You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can’t be going through the day distracted by trivia.” Barack Obama.
Barack Obama famously always wears the same suit and he simplifies the number of decisions he has to make – as he has so many! The claims that the act of making a decision erodes your ability to make later decisions.
Obama is not alone. Mark Zukerberg famously only wears grey Tshirts, and Steve Jobs, who was usually wearing a black turtleneck jumper.
I’m not so sure a wardrobe of two blue suits, just grey T-shirts or just black socks will necessarily work for me, but you get the idea.
Reduce the Number of Decisions
Reducing options especially resonates with me, as I know when I reduce the options and the decisions I have to make it works. I stay focused, on track and I don’t waste time thinking about it.
I think we underestimate how reducing the number of choices gives us more freedom, not the other way around. It’s then easier to keep that commitment to yourself.
Likewise creating systems, processes and routines is only going to help you get more done and maximise your productivity
So as well as buying a load of black socks, here are my 16 key activities to improve your personal productivity. Give them a go – they work!
- Time block your day
- Set clear boundaries
- Recognise when it is good enough
- Build a library of pre-saved replies and templates
- Walk daily without your phone to brainstorm
- Don’t be a slave to your smart phone, so set times to check your phone
- Only keep 5 tabs open at any time
- Journal your 3 daily wins
- Journal your 3 daily learnings
- Block your time and take a break every 90 minutes, get outside, breathe the air
- Focus on one task at a time – multitasking is not your friend!
- Every time you write, think how you can leverage it and repurpose it
- Create a suite of standard replies and responses to frequently asked questions
- Turn off ALL your notifications
- Plan your food for the week
- Before you get ready for bed, get your clothes out for the following day!
You don’t have to be a global leader like Barack, a billionaire business owner like Zukerberg or Jobs. You just have to find what works for you. If it just turns out to be that by adopting any of these ideas helps, then that’s a great day, isn’t it??
Maybe my blog should have been called Black Socks is the Answer!
I am sure I’ll come back to this in the coming weeks, how to boss your decision fatigue, starting with black socks!