How to avoid decision fatigue and not regret choices

Why you can get tired of making decisions

Most of the decisions we make every day are minor: put on pants or shorts, walk or ride a bike, read, or go to bed. But they build up and lead to fatigue.

Research into this topic began with psychologist Roy Baumeister's work on willpower depletion. He proved Ego Depletion: Is the Active Self a Limited Resource? that people have a limited amount of mental resources that are depleted with use. In making decisions, we are spending those same resources.

For example, Extraneous factors in judicial decisions were found that in the first half of the day, judges more often make a decision on parole than in the second. 70% of the morning hearings ended with the decision to release the defendant, and towards evening this figure dropped to 10%. A significant difference was observed even among similar cases.

When our mental resources are depleted, we choose the safest option.

The same happens with less serious decisions, for example, in the work of business analysts. As it turned out, Decision Fatigue and Heuristic Analyst Forecasts, during the day, the accuracy of their forecasts decreases. At the same time, specialists make more and more decisions using heuristics that simplify the process.

Both choices - not freeing prisoners and making simplistic predictions - can in fact be considered an avoidance of choice. The judges prefer to leave the prisoner in prison, because this decision will not entail new crimes. Analysts rely on majority opinion or their past predictions because it is easier than looking for bold new solutions.

We are all subject to this. Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid decision fatigue.

How to avoid decision fatigue

1. Reduce the number of unnecessary decisions

This is the easiest way. For example, many successful people wear the same thing every day. By eliminating or automating some decisions, you will save mental resources.

2. Make important decisions in the morning

If possible, leave unexpected questions in the morning. Better to make a good decision a day later than a bad one immediately.

3. Indulge in sweets

The body needs energy to work, and the brain especially. Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: willpower is more than a metaphor some researchers believe.