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Yesterday we
talked about decision fatigue, and how many decisions we, as adults, are
expected to make every day. No wonder we
all are craving that simpler time! We know that that simple time does not necessarily mean it was easier, but it was carved out of a consistent routine. It also
explains why I thought simple living meant going back to
gardening and raising chickens. What I did
not count on was how much modern life still played a part of my every day, so
instead of simplifying, I was making life more complicated for myself.
talked about decision fatigue, and how many decisions we, as adults, are
expected to make every day. No wonder we
all are craving that simpler time! We know that that simple time does not necessarily mean it was easier, but it was carved out of a consistent routine. It also
explains why I thought simple living meant going back to
gardening and raising chickens. What I did
not count on was how much modern life still played a part of my every day, so
instead of simplifying, I was making life more complicated for myself.
How do you combat decision fatigue?
One of the best ways to combat decision fatigue is to create
habits. When you create certain habits you
are able to remove the decision making process completely for certain areas of
your life.
habits. When you create certain habits you
are able to remove the decision making process completely for certain areas of
your life.
Every morning when I get up I do the same few things, in the
same order. I go downstairs, turn on the
coffee, brush my teeth, read a Proverb, and write in my write the word journal. Now, there are days that I am able to do more
than that during my morning routine, but for the most part, this is an everyday
occurrence and I don’t have to think about it.
My body automatically goes through the motions, which is excellent
considering I am still pretty much a zombie every morning, even if I do think
of myself as a morning person.
same order. I go downstairs, turn on the
coffee, brush my teeth, read a Proverb, and write in my write the word journal. Now, there are days that I am able to do more
than that during my morning routine, but for the most part, this is an everyday
occurrence and I don’t have to think about it.
My body automatically goes through the motions, which is excellent
considering I am still pretty much a zombie every morning, even if I do think
of myself as a morning person.
This is a habit that I developed in high school. Although back then I used a regular journal
and did not drink the coffee, but it has helped me immensely to get through my
morning easily, and almost mindlessly.
and did not drink the coffee, but it has helped me immensely to get through my
morning easily, and almost mindlessly.
Using habits to defeat decision fatigue
If decision fatigue causes a loss of freedom,
and instead delivers stress and anxiety about “what’s next?” habits will
deliver on giving you the freedom you crave; and habits will deliver on the
simplicity you want.
and instead delivers stress and anxiety about “what’s next?” habits will
deliver on giving you the freedom you crave; and habits will deliver on the
simplicity you want.
When you think about decision fatigue, one of the easiest ways
to combat that fatigue is to limit your choices. This in and of itself leads you to find
freedom in simplicity.
to combat that fatigue is to limit your choices. This in and of itself leads you to find
freedom in simplicity.
When you limit your choices, you are able to make decisions
quicker, and then not fall into the constant fatigue of what is next.
quicker, and then not fall into the constant fatigue of what is next.
Limiting choices can seem stressful at first, but once you do it will help to deliver the freedom that you crave.
This is where your mission statement comes into play. Your mission statement will give you the
framework in order to minimize your choices in the large decisions. When you measure a decision against your
mission statement, it either will be clear that it is something you should do,
or clear that it is something you should not do, because it will either line
up, or not line up with your values and the way that you want to live your
life.
framework in order to minimize your choices in the large decisions. When you measure a decision against your
mission statement, it either will be clear that it is something you should do,
or clear that it is something you should not do, because it will either line
up, or not line up with your values and the way that you want to live your
life.
You don’t need to keep revisiting that decision in the
future once you have measured it against your mission statement. It will most likely always be a hard no for
you. It doesn’t completely alleviate
making the decision, but when you don’t have to think about it – just like
having certain habits every day that you don’t need to think about – the
decision comes that much easier.
future once you have measured it against your mission statement. It will most likely always be a hard no for
you. It doesn’t completely alleviate
making the decision, but when you don’t have to think about it – just like
having certain habits every day that you don’t need to think about – the
decision comes that much easier.
One of the easiest ways to incorporate habits into your day
is to look at your day in blocks of time.
Set up a regular morning routine – get up at the same time every day,
follow the same list of items in order.
Once you are doing this for a period of time (some experts say 21 days,
some say longer), it will become second nature and you won’t need to think
about it. This is nice when you aren’t
exactly a morning person.
is to look at your day in blocks of time.
Set up a regular morning routine – get up at the same time every day,
follow the same list of items in order.
Once you are doing this for a period of time (some experts say 21 days,
some say longer), it will become second nature and you won’t need to think
about it. This is nice when you aren’t
exactly a morning person.
Look at your
lunch time block if you work outside of the home, look at your dinner time
routine, and what happens after your kids go to bed. Everyone has always said that kids need a good
bedtime routine to thrive, and I’m sure you have done the same thing for years
with your children. You should do the
same for yourself.
lunch time block if you work outside of the home, look at your dinner time
routine, and what happens after your kids go to bed. Everyone has always said that kids need a good
bedtime routine to thrive, and I’m sure you have done the same thing for years
with your children. You should do the
same for yourself.
Another great way to decrease decision fatigue (and make
your mornings easier as well) is to create a uniform that you will wear every
single day. It may sound a little silly
to make the decision to wear the same outfit every day, but there are a lot of
great, successful people who do this.
The three that come to mind are Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerburg, and
President Obama. Limiting the choice of
what to wear each morning has given them all freedom to make really important
and life changing decisions.
your mornings easier as well) is to create a uniform that you will wear every
single day. It may sound a little silly
to make the decision to wear the same outfit every day, but there are a lot of
great, successful people who do this.
The three that come to mind are Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerburg, and
President Obama. Limiting the choice of
what to wear each morning has given them all freedom to make really important
and life changing decisions.
What
are some habits that you have that help relieve some of that decision
fatigue?
are some habits that you have that help relieve some of that decision
fatigue?
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