How to Make Lesser & Better Decisions

During my earlier years as a Coach, Talent & Clientele Manager, I were often bombarded with endless decisions that always seemed important and urgent.

" How much should we pay these coaches, and why should they be paid the amount that we just decided?"

" This client has too many specific requests that we couldn't seem to satisfy. What are some requests that we can satisfy and others that we have to reject and justify?"

" The client wants a change of speakers' line-up before the event commences in less than 72 hours' time and it is contractually legal. Which speakers can we approach and not pay an exorbitant sum of money for?"

These decisions were just a few among the countless constant ones that I needed to seek urgent clarifications for and make sound judgement asap.

Little did I realize that I was overwhelmed by the phenomenon of Decision Fatigue.

In today’s fast-paced world, we face countless decisions each day—from what to eat and wear, to making complex work-related choices.

This relentless decision-making can lead to what’s known as decision fatigue, a state where our ability to make quality choices diminishes due to the mental strain of decision overload.

Over time, decision fatigue can stifle productivity, creativity, and even our capacity to make sound judgments, affecting both our personal lives and professional success.

What is Decision Fatigue?

Decision fatigue is the mental exhaustion that sets in after making numerous decisions in a row, leading to impaired judgment and a tendency to opt for simpler, less effective solutions.

Research from social psychology indicates that the more decisions we make throughout the day, the more our mental energy depletes.

When decision fatigue sets in, people are more likely to make impulsive choices, avoid decisions altogether, or fall back on default behaviours.

Impact on Personal Growth

When constantly fatigued from decision-making, personal growth can stall.

The mental energy required for self-reflection, learning, and goal-setting becomes harder to access, leading us to settle for the status quo rather than pushing ourselves toward new horizons.

Impact on Career and Business Growth

Decision fatigue can lead to compromised productivity, lower-quality work, and increased risk of burnout.

For business leaders, it can impact strategy, innovation, and team morale, as exhausted minds are less able to see the bigger picture or consider innovative solutions.

What Can We Do to Combat Decision Fatigue?

1) Prioritize Important Decisions in the Morning

Our decision-making abilities are strongest at the beginning of the day.

To make the most of this, schedule your high-priority decisions and mentally demanding tasks for the morning.

Starting the day by tackling your most critical issues ensures they receive your best mental energy, helping you avoid unnecessary decision fatigue later on.

(2) Automate and Delegate Routine Decisions

Save mental energy for the more important decisions by automating or delegating routine tasks. For instance:

• Automate simple choices: Create a daily routine or adopt a meal plan to reduce decision load.

• Delegate: At work, entrust tasks to team members, allowing you to focus on strategic decisions.

For example, many successful leaders, like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, adopted a simple wardrobe to eliminate daily outfit decisions, conserving energy for high-stakes choices.

(3) Limit Your Options

The paradox of choice reveals that the more options we have, the harder it becomes to choose.

In both personal and business decisions, streamline options to a manageable number.

Limit the amount of information you gather and set clear criteria for making a decision.

(4) Establish Boundaries for Decision-Making Time

Spending too long on a single decision can drain your energy and productivity.

Consider using the 5/5/5 rule for decisions: if a decision won’t matter in 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 years, avoid spending more than 5 minutes on it.

Setting a strict time limit, especially for minor choices, can significantly reduce decision fatigue.

What Are Some Strategies to Support Long-Term Growth?

(1) Develop a Decision-Making Framework

For critical decisions, establish a decision-making framework or set of criteria to follow.

Having a structure can help you make consistent and rational choices without rethinking each step.

This can be particularly useful in business settings, where aligning decisions with company values and goals becomes easier.

(2) Regularly Review and Reflect

Take time to reflect on past decisions and their outcomes.

This practice helps you learn from mistakes, adjust strategies, and ultimately reduce the mental effort required for similar decisions in the future.

(3) Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care practices like exercise, meditation, and proper sleep replenish mental energy, making it easier to resist decision fatigue.

Physical health directly influences mental resilience, which in turn affects decision-making capabilities.

(4) Schedule “No-Decision” Time

Set aside time during the day to switch off from decision-making entirely.

For example, dedicating evenings to family, relaxation, or hobbies can give your mind a break and help reset for the following day.

How to Move Forward & Progress Well

For me, after going through necessary counselling and coaching, I realize that some of the decisions were truly above my pay grade and I was not responsible for making the final decisions.

As such, I learnt to communicate my boundaries, adopt the Eisenhower Decision-Making Framework and delegate as many decisions as I responsibly could to other colleagues.

The truth is that decision fatigue is an unavoidable part of modern life, but by recognizing its impact and adopting thoughtful strategies, we can reduce its effects.

Prioritizing high-stakes decisions, automating minor choices, and focusing on personal well-being can all contribute to stronger, more consistent decision-making.

By managing decision fatigue, we open the door to sustained growth in our personal lives, careers, and businesses, empowering us to make clear, confident choices that align with our values and goals.

What are your strategies for managing decision fatigue? Comment below and let’s start a conversation about building mental resilience in decision-making!

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