What Is Decision Fatigue And How To Combat It

 How often have you had the experience of needing to make tough decisions that pull you in different directions?

You go round and round in circles, and, in the end, you either make a snap decision or put off reaching a decision indefinitely because you’re just too tired to think anymore.

The stress and overwhelming emotions compel you to make a decision and yet, at the same time, make you unable to do so is labeled as decision fatigue.

Poor decisions are made not because of incapability but because arriving at one or more choices takes its toll. It also happens to severely weaken our mental energy.

What Is Decision Fatigue?

To explain the concept of decision fatigue, let us look at an example:

When determining a court ruling, many factors contribute to the final verdict. You probably assume that the judge’s decision is influenced solely by the nature of the crime committed or broken laws. While this is valid, an even greater influential factor dictates the judge’s decision: the time of day.

In 2012, a research team from Columbia University examined 1,112 court rulings by a Parole Board Judge over ten months. The judge would have to determine whether the individuals in question would be released from prison and granted parole or a change in the parole terms.

While the facts of the case often precede decision-making, the judges’ mental state had an alarming influence on their verdict.

The study has shown that as the day progressed, the chances of a favorable ruling dropped.

The question arises, “does the time of day or the judges’ hunger level contribute greatly to their decision-making?” Yes, it does.

The Detrimental Consequences of Decision Fatigue

When you are in a powerful position, such as the previously mentioned judges, you can’t afford to let your mental focus and state dictate your decision-making; yet it still happens.

When you’re just too tired to think, you stop caring; this is also called compassion fatigue. Once you get careless, that’s when you need to worry. Decision fatigue can contribute to several issues, such as impulse shopping, poor decision-making at work, and poor decision-making in after-work relationships.

Are You Suffering From Decision Fatigue?

By now, I am sure that you are familiar enough with the decision fatigue definition.

And the answer is, yes. We all suffer from decision fatigue without even realizing it.

Perhaps you aren’t a judge with the fate of an individual’s life at your disposal, but the small decisions, be it daily and weekly, or monthly big decisions you make for yourself can hinder your productivity if you’re not in the right headspace.

How to Beat Decision Fatigue

Two possible ways how to overcome decision fatigue are either you alter the time of decision making to the time when your mind is fresh or limiting the number of decisions made in a day.

Take Frequent Breaks for a Clearer Mind

You are at your peak of productivity after a break, so to reap the benefits, you need to take lots of breaks to improve your mental energy. Judges make better decisions in the morning and after their lunch break, and so will you.

Structure your break times. Decide beforehand when you will take breaks, and eat energy-sustaining snacks, so your energy level doesn’t drop too low. The time you “lose” during your breaks will be made up in the end, as your productivity will increase after each break.