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I Predict: This Will Be the Next Big Thing in Every Leader's Life
When abundance becomes overwhelming, you start facing decision fatigue. Your choices suddenly start feeling like a curse. Is there a cure for this?
Every decision you make drains a small amount of your mental energy.
By the end of a busy day, this cumulative effect - known as decision fatigue - can leave you mentally exhausted and less capable of making quality choices.
This often-overlooked phenomenon can have a significant impact on productivity, yet few are aware of its effects and solutions.
Reducing the number of decisions you make daily can preserve your mental energy and enhance your productivity.
What is Decision Fatigue?
We're constantly bombarded with choices.
From selecting our morning coffee to making crucial business decisions, our days are filled with an endless stream of options. In fact, researchers estimate that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. But have you ever wondered why you feel mentally drained by the end of the day, even if you haven't been physically active? The answer lies in decision fatigue.
Decision fatigue is a psychological concept that describes the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision making. In simpler terms, the more choices you make throughout the day, the harder each one becomes for your brain.
The Science Behind Decision Fatigue
This concept was popularized by social psychologist Roy Baumeister and his colleagues. Their research showed that our ability to make decisions and exercise self-control is a finite resource that depletes over time. Just as a muscle tires from repeated use, our mental energy for decision-making diminishes with each choice we face.
In one study, judges were found to be more likely to grant parole to prisoners after their food break as opposed to late in the day when they were mentally drained. The percentage of favorable rulings dropped gradually from ≈65% to nearly zero within each decision session and returned abruptly to ≈65% after a break.
The Impact of Decision Fatigue
The effects of decision fatigue can be far-reaching:
Decreased productivity: A study by McKinsey found that high-skilled workers spend 28% of their workweek managing e-mail and nearly 20% searching for internal information or tracking down colleagues who can help with specific tasks.
Lower quality decisions
Increased procrastination
Greater impulsivity: In a study of 1,100 parole decisions, prisoners who appeared early in the morning received parole about 70% of the time, while those who appeared late in the day were paroled less than 10% of the time.
Reduced self-control
In the workplace, decision fatigue can have serious consequences. It can lead to poor strategic choices, conflicts with colleagues, and a general decrease in performance. For leaders and managers, who often face numerous decisions daily, the impact can be particularly severe.
Decision fatigue is the silent productivity killer. It doesn't announce its presence, but its effects ripple through every aspect of our lives, from the boardroom to the living room.
Strategies to Combat Decision Fatigue
The good news is that once you're aware of decision fatigue, you can take steps to mitigate its effects:
Establish routines: Former President Barack Obama famously wore only gray or blue suits to reduce "decision fatigue."
Tackle crucial decisions when your mind is fresh
Limit your options: Steve Jobs was known for his signature black turtleneck, reducing his daily clothing decisions.
Use the "two-minute rule"
Delegate and automate
Practice self-care: A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that hunger significantly impacted judicial decisions.
Take regular breaks: The Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25-minute work sessions followed by short breaks, can help refresh your mind.
Batch similar tasks
Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate decisions from your life entirely.
Rather, it's to reduce the mental load of less important choices so you can focus your energy on decisions that truly matter.
Think of your daily decision-making capacity as a bank account. Each decision you make is a withdrawal from this account. Big decisions are like large purchases, while small decisions are like minor transactions. Just as you wouldn't make a major purchase when your bank account is nearly empty, you shouldn't make important decisions when your mental energy is depleted.
The Benefits of Managing Decision Fatigue
By effectively managing decision fatigue, you can experience a range of benefits:
Increased productivity and efficiency: Studies show that reducing decision fatigue can increase productivity by up to 25%.
Improved decision quality
Better work-life balance
Reduced stress and anxiety: The American Psychological Association reports that 23% of Americans feel regret due to past decisions, a factor that contributes to stress.
Enhanced focus on important tasks
Here’s how you can take action: To begin tackling decision fatigue, start a decision journal. For one week, record every decision you make, no matter how small. Note the time of day and how you feel about each decision. At the end of the week, review your journal. Identify patterns, particularly times when you feel most drained or make poorer choices. Use this information to restructure your day, moving important decisions to your peak times and finding opportunities to reduce unnecessary choices.
Catch you in the next one…
Hoyin Cheung,
P.S. If you found these tips helpful, share them with friends who might need a productivity boost. It’s a small action that can make a big difference! 😉
P.P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts or any strategies you use to have 100% attention while working. Feel free to reply or connect with me on LinkedIn or X. Let’s continue the conversation and boost our productivity together!