Decisions, Decisions – Combatting Decision Fatigue
Hit the snooze button or get up right away?
Toast or yogurt?
Rain jacket or sweater?
Before we even leave the house each morning, we’ve made a number of decisions. So many, in fact, that we can’t fathom how many choices we make in just one morning, often on auto-pilot. Our daily routine is guided by these options and the outcomes of our choices.
When a more stressful situation begins, like worrying about the safety of an older loved one, these minor decisions can become challenging. This is known as decision fatigue, the concept that our ability to make decisions can get worse after making many decisions. We’ve all been through this scenario. You may realize that at the end of a long, stressful day, even the most simple choices like what to have for dinner can leave you feeling stuck.
A person experiencing decision fatigue may feel both mentally and emotionally overwhelmed from the number of decisions they have made, which can lead to poor choices, stress and procrastination. Self-doubt enters, causing the person to second guess their ability to make good choices. Even basic decisions become challenging and take up too much mental energy since there is more deliberation on even the most simple tasks. Imagine how enormous the major choices can feel at this time, especially things like finding senior care solutions for an aging loved one. It is difficult to effectively tackle these important concerns.
According to the American Medical Association, a person with decision fatigue may feel exhausted physically and even have a sense of brain fog. The cumulative impact of this physical and mental fatigue can leave someone with a sense of being wiped out by the end of the day. Impulsive behavior, anger at coworkers or family members and reckless decision making are the reality of this common situation. People have reported feeling distracted, anxious and withdrawn.
How can you manage decision fatigue? Here are some tips to help make decision fatigue easier to deal with:
Delegate decision making when you can: You don’t have to handle all of the decisions in your life. Trust in family members, co-workers and friends to make smaller decisions, especially those that truly don’t require your full attention. By eliminating some of the decisions on your plate, you will feel less overwhelmed.
Embrace downtime in your day: In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it is easy to keep going without taking a break to recharge. Literally schedule a break in your day, taking a solid 20 minutes to read a book, watch some guilty pleasure reality tv, go for a walk, journal or meditate. This is your time to relax and clear your mind, without decisions looming large.
Take some choices off your plate: Automate the situations that you can. Set out breakfast the night before so you don’t have to think in the morning about what to eat. There are even some prominent leaders like Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs who opted to wear similar if not the same thing every day. By eliminating the daily choice of what to wear, they were able to focus on other decisions.
Set a sleep schedule and stick to it: When you’re sleep deprived, you’re more likely to make bad decisions, have poor impulse control and feel more emotional. The better quality of sleep, the better you’ll feel about your choices.
We at CarePatrol understand the enormity of decision making. When it comes to finding the right senior care for your older loved one, we ask the right questions to be able to provide the best options based on desires, health needs, location and budget. By accompanying you on tours, we can answer your questions and stand by you as your family makes the important decisions. Our services are no cost to you, so reach out today to discover why CarePatrol has been the expert in senior care services for over three decades.