How decision fatigue effects us every day and what to do about it
August 16, 2017
By Brian Maynor
Have you ever wondered why we tend to suffer from impulse shopping, over eating or drinking, or other questionable choices after working all day?
While these may all be coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, they are also the product of decision fatigue. All of these choices were made at a time when our brains were tired and we were literally too tired to think.
Look at it this way, we make decisions all day long on a variety of scales, but they all require our brain to work. Over the course of the day our brains get tired. While they get a little reprieve around lunch, by the end of the workday they are exhausted again. It’s when our brains are tired that we stop caring as much about the consequences of our decisions and the risk of poor choices is greater.
Other than taking more breaks throughout the day to let our minds recharge, here are a couple of other ways to combat decision fatigue:
1. Make the most of your morning. The first few hours of the day may not seem like the ideal time to make important decisions, but they are actually the perfect time. During the first three hours of the day our brains are operating at peak performance, yet we tend to spend this time on trivial matters like deciding what to wear, what to have for breakfast, or reading our social media feed.
Instead of making those decisions why not focus on planning your day or your life? While you’re eating the breakfast you planned the night before, set goals for yourself personally and professionally and map out how to achieve them.
This extends to your first few hours at work as well. Instead of spending them on housekeeping matters, dive right into the important tasks.
2. Create habits that reduce the need for decision-making. Just like planning your breakfast, deciding what to wear is not something that has to take a lot of time or thought. A good rule of thumb is to layout your outfit the night before, but if that’s too much go with the first thing you see. After all, isn’t that what we tend to do anyway even if we change clothes seven or eight times?
You can also adopt the uniform mentality, which intentionally limits your choices to a select pallet, style or combination of pieces. An added bonus to this approach is knowing everything works together, so you’ll have a great outfit no matter what you choose.
3. Eat regularly. The commercial is true; ‘you’re not yourself when you’re hungry.’ Low-glucose levels have a negative impact on our decision-making. When else are we going to get the okay to eat more? Just remember not all snacks are the same. Plan ahead to have healthy, energy sustaining options available to better avoid the lure of sugary treats.
Just like our muscles, our brains get tired after being overused, so we need to give them periodic breaks to recharge throughout the day. Otherwise we risk becoming too tired to think, which is when we start getting careless and run the risk of making poor decisions.
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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
