Did you think shoveling down chocolate chip cookies was about spoiling yourself with flavor?
Probably not.
More likely it’s a loss of willpower from decision fatigue.
What is decision fatigue?
Research shows that making decision after decision after decision has a biological price. It drains your mental-energy savings account.
After a long period of decision making, the brain gets fatigued and cuts corners by:
1. Acting impulsively. Instead of using energy to consider all the possible consequences of a choice, it just chooses. “Sure, tweet that photo! What could go wrong?”
If you’ve been in back to back meetings, the length of time you spend considering what’s best for a client decreases and you’re not conscious of it. But decision making fatigue has set in. (Click here to read about the impact on judge’s decisions as the day goes on.)
2. Doing nothing. So you’re not “lazy” after all, your brain’s simply looking for ways to conserve its energy.
What type of decisions cause decision fatigue?
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All of ‘em.
The decisions you’re making don’t have to be life or death; stay married or get divorced; type of decisions to wear you down. Gift and clothing choices you make on a Shop-til-you-drop day cause decision fatigue. In fact, postdoctoral fellow, Jean Twenge, had the idea of looking at this aspect of brain energy depletion while planning her wedding. After she and her fiance spent the time needed to register for gifts, she said “By the end [of that process], you could have talked me into anything.”
When your willpower is reduced, it’s easier to yield to any kind of temptation. That’s why grocery stores put the candy and other sweet goodies at the cash register – your willpower’s tired after a bunch of grocery shopping choices. And a sugar boost sounds good.
Makes sense to me. I look back on the days when I was a single mom with two sons. I’d be making decisions related to them and to work all day. By supper time I had decision fatigue. I’d open the refrigerator and just stare inside unable to decide what to make. If one of the kids said “Let’s order pizza”, that’s what I’d end up doing. Decision made. But if I had planned the meal beforehand, I’d make it. I had the physical energy to cook but not the mental energy to make a decision about what to cook.
What can you do?
Unfortunately, you’re not aware of being tired from the accumulation of your daily decisions:
- What should I have for breakfast?
- Which task should I start with?
- Who should I hire?
- Where to go on vacation?
- What to write on my blog?
- How do I market my business?
- Where do I go for lunch?
- Etc., etc., etc.
Mental fatigue is not like physical fatigue. You don’t feel winded or have sore muscles. That’s the scary part. You may not realize that your brain is fatigued and you’re no longer thinking of all the possible ramifications of a decision. (Your doctor or lawyer may not either.)
Knowing some of the “tells” is helpful. Your feelings intensify. Your impulse or desire to eat or drink or argue increases.
I know those feelings.
I also know I’ve made some short-sighted decisions when in those moods. I just want the decision over with. I don’t want to think about it anymore.
It’s comforting to know that the impulsiveness I give in to from time to time is really about my brain taking care of itself. I have my fingers crossed that, now that I’m consciously aware of decision fatigue, when the “tells” show up, I’ll take a deep breath and say I’ll give you an answer tomorrow. Or I’ll call you back in a few minutes and then I’ll walk around the block inhaling all the oxygen I can before I return the call.
It’s clear to me that my clearest decision making is done the morning or after I’ve had a mental break of some sort. I’m also better when there’s good food in my belly.
Right now I’m hungry. I’ve had a bunch of decisions to make today and my brain can’t come up with an ending for this post. So I’m getting some food, going for a walk and I’ll get back to you tomorrow with an ending.
This post is based on an essay from science columnist John Tierney (tierneylab@nytimes.com). He and Roy F. Baumeister wrote “Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength,” which comes out next month.
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A fabulous post, Cherry. Boy, can I relate. I certainly get my share of blogger mental fatigue, those times when the words just won’t come because my mind is so weary from weighing ideas, being interrupted, and struggling to find clarity. As a coach and consultant where my job is about assessing situations, untangling issues, and connecting with others, the mental drain can get acute. The biggest fear is not seeing things clearly when my mind is weary. Love your perspectives and declare that I pack as much thinking as I can in the morning when my brain is fresh. Afternoons are for mindlessness if I can swing it! Thanks, ~Dawn
thanks dawn. assessing situation, untangling issues and connecting are all part of brain drain, and so are the decisions about your horse, mowing, and what to plant in the garden. So many choices in life it’s easy to get mental fatigue. Cherry
Great post. I’m sure that I suffer from this most of the time. I think living alone can also add to it. I’m making “all” of the decisions, “all” of the time. And then Mom wants me to make decisions for her too. Knowing about being mentally tired, your post put a new spin on brain fatigue for me. Your terms could answer my reaction to my buddy the last time we were together. He wouldn’t make any decisions about anything and laid everything on me. My decision ended up telling him I was going home. I just couldn’t make another decision. Maybe he was also suffering from fatigue.
Very interesting. I sounds like something I need to be more aware of in me and others around me. Thanks.
Skip
thanks skip. And living alone definitely contributes because, as you say. all the decisions are yours and yours alone.
YOur buddy and you were probably both suffering from decision fatigue. Cherry
SUCH a great post! I’m big on scheduling around my “cycle”. I’m a diurnal girl – good in the morning and night. Mid day? It’s a wash… I eat, file, and tidy during those times. And yes, just the number of decisions we have to make can be soooooo paralyzing.
And then there are the big ones… I have a really big one lurking that has to do with work/strategic direction, etc. And I’m not getting a clear “gut” feel on it.
Sigh… and the worrying about the decision is so worrisome!
Hey Kris,
scheduling around your diurnal cycle is a smart idea. wish we could dump the myriad of choices for the simplest things – cold meds, pasta, toilet paper.
Interesting choice of words are your part – big decision “lurking”. That word gives it an ominous, always there is the shadow feeling. Good luck with it. Cherry
Hi Cherry! Another wise post about everyday life in this complex modern world!
I say, I sure do suffer from decision fatigue, especially in the afternoon…brain is tired! LOL!
So, this is great news, love the research, and I like that it includes all of those little decisions as well….
I am certainly going to let my clients know about this!
Also, then, this reinforces the idea that one would benefit from not feeling as if a decision HAS to made on the spot, that minute…..maybe the brain just needs some time to rest, to sleep on things, and then the answer will be clearer and feel more congruent in the morning!
thanks!
Such wonderful, smart, valid points, Cherry. I can relate to this very well with two kids and a third on the way. I need to make better choices/decisions, but so often I’m rushed/distracted and a million things are going on. I often fall prey to the “impulsiveness” you describe, which typically results in something not-so-desireable.
Love this!
Very interesting that making decisions causes fatigue! Great to keep in mind when overloaded with decision-making in the future.
What a great post, Cherry!! It makes so much sense, but sadly is something I don’t pay enough attention to in my own life! I can recognize the times when I just feel worn-out and worn-down; if I think back, it largely due to those days when I am deciding to much! I know for me, the best “reset button” is to get a little exercise at some point each day – it seems to act like a nice mental turn of the page, and a time when I don’t have to make any decisions, other than “turn left”, “turn left again”, “breathe”… It helps!