Decision Fatigue, Making Problems Easier & Avoiding Distractions
Hello my friend,
This week I’m thinking about decisions.
How many do we each make each day?
The collective research suggests about 35,000 per day. A fair few, then.
The large majority of these are made subconsciously. Without any intentional thought. Therefore they don’t waste too much of our precious energy.
Habits are formed for a reason. As James Clear states, habits are mental shortcuts learned from experience. In other words once we decide on doing a certain action over and over it becomes almost second nature. Like speaking, learning to drive or riding a bike. These shortcuts are made of actions that serve us, and of some that do not.
Decision fatigue is real. The more time we spend consciously thinking about choices the more fatigue sets in. People such as Steve Jobs and Barack Obama would regularly wear the same outfit each day. They didn’t want to waste energy on the smaller stuff in order to maintain more for the important stuff. So they said, at least. Essentially our capacity gets tired and our decision making gets worse the more time we spend on it.
When it comes to creating a healthier lifestyle for ourselves decision fatigue can be a roadblock. Should we or shouldn’t we workout today, do we eat the salad instead of the burger, will we order a water or a wine? It we aren’t clear on the decisions we will make in these types of moments it can waste energy and create fatigue as well as often making choices we regret. If we are looking to exercise early morning or straight after work yet we don’t put an intentional plan in place we will later spend wasted time thinking about that choice, before becoming frustrated and very often deciding against it. All that for what?
Thinking about the thing doesn’t change the thing. It just makes us more tired or unmotivated. Once we are clear on what we want and will do within our routine or in a given scenario we are far less likely to waste time thinking about it. The decision has already been made.
Getting clearer on the behaviours and actions we want allows many decisions to take care of themselves. If we want a healthier mind and body and are intentional on the what and the when, we will start following through without later thought. With time they become habitual. We won’t then need to spend the time and energy thinking about if we will or won’t do them, or if we should or shouldn’t.
An example for me each morning, involves rolling out of bed, drinking a large glass of water, jumping in a cold shower and walking to the gym. Most of these mornings I haven’t decided a thing. It just happens, on repeat. I only realise whilst on the walk home from the gym. It’s like autopilot, but one deliberately constructed. Don’t get me wrong they were not easy to start. I intentionally had to think about doing them. But now, rarely ever. I try to create these systems for myself where possible, as I simply cannot rely on my willingness to do certain things in a given moment.
Make decisions easier by making them feel like they are not decisions in the first place.
Things I’m learning
How to make problems easier.
“Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.” - Jim Rohn
If you think you need a break you’re already too late.
Another good reminder to myself this week. I’m learning this, and it reminded me of the saying that if you’re too busy to meditate for twenty minutes then you should meditate for an hour.
“The time to relax is when you don't have time for it”. - Sydney J. Harris
A better question to ask someone.
“Don’t ask how people are doing, ask how they are sleeping. You’ll learn a lot more.” - Andrew Huberman
Life hack
Using the app ‘freedom’ to help regulate the time spent on your phone. It’s been helpful for me again recently creating clear bouts of time where I cease to be distracted. Less decision fatigue and a calmer mind - every time. Try setting one hour in the morning, afternoon or again in the evening to ensure some time to live in the real world.
That’s all for this week. Thank you as always for reading!
Big love, Nick
PS More steps equal more answers.