The life of a woman – A true juggler of responsibilities. Balancing a career, motherhood, and family obligations is a challenging feat.
It is a constant game of weighing the pros and cons of each decision. Stay late at work to meet deadlines or risk missing a family get-together?
Give equal attention to each child or risk one feeling left out. And let us not forget about the demands of being a wife, daughter, or sister… where everyone wants a piece of her!
With so many commitments and yet little time, the question is, which should come first – the career or the family?
Does making the right choice drain you mentally and emotionally?
Are you under the effect of Decision Fatigue?
Learn what ‘Decision fatigue’ is and how it can put you at risk for cognitive biases. Discover the signs of decision fatigue, who takes advantage of it, and tips on how to guard against it in your own life!
Understanding The Decision Fatigue
Decision Fatigue is a phenomenon in cognitive biases where the ability to make sound, rational decisions becomes impaired due to prolonged decision-making.
Feeling overwhelmed by all the choices life throws your way? Now you know you might be suffering from decision fatigue!
It is like running a marathon; our brains cannot handle the last few miles. Too many decisions too quickly can wear out your brain, leaving you feeling helpless and indecisive. So we pause, catch our breath, and remember the importance of thoughtful planning and foresight or risk making some seriously questionable choices.
The obvious symptoms of decision fatigue are delaying tasks, making choices without clear thought, shying away from decisions, and unable to come to sure conclusions are all classic indicators of decision fatigue.
The strain from this often manifests itself in weariness, increased worry and sadness, physical discomforts like headaches and digestive issues, and other serious consequences.
Exploited And Exploiters
The typical victims of decision fatigue are people overloaded with decision-making, whether these decisions are personal, professional, or both. Executives, entrepreneurs, and workers in high-pressure positions (especially those exposed to unpredictable outcomes) are often the most susceptible.
Exploiters prey on individuals experiencing decision fatigue, taking advantage of their vulnerability and influencing them toward unfavorable choices. They strategically present their offers or influence decisions when individuals are mentally fatigued, making it easier to sway them towards choices that may not be in their best interest.
Day-To-Day Decision Fatigue
- Going grocery shopping after making many decisions at work, only to find yourself loading up your cart with unnecessary items you do not need.
- Sitting in a movie theater and unable to decide which snack to buy, you get the large popcorn-and-drink combo, which you cannot finish.
- Shopping for clothes when you are mentally exhausted. Not realizing how expensive the purchases are until it’s too late.
- Overcommitting yourself to extra activities or tasks out of sheer exhaustion without thinking about the consequences.
Recognizing When You Are Slipping Into The Decision Fatigue Trap
Signs of decision fatigue include the following:
- Difficulty concentrating, paying attention, and remembering things.
- Loss of motivation or lack of interest in activities you would normally find enjoyable.
- Feeling overwhelmed when faced with making decisions.
- Intense feelings of anxiety or stress when presented with choices.
- Indecisiveness due to feeling too exhausted from making many small daily decisions.
Overcoming The Decision Fatigue
- Set clear objectives for each decision and focus on the long-term goal.
- Break down larger decisions into smaller ones that can be solved incrementally.
- Remove unimportant decisions from your plate to free up time and energy for more critical tasks.
- Take regular breaks to refresh yourself mentally and physically.
- Schedule important decisions in advance so you have the time and space to consider them thoughtfully.
- Engaging in self-care activities, like exercising, meditating, or following a healthy diet, can improve your well-being and alleviate fatigue.
- Reach out for support from trusted friends and family members who can provide an outside perspective on your choices.
Final Thoughts
We often see women often fall victim to this mental exhaustion caused by making endless choices throughout the day. This turns out to have serious implications for decision-making skills.
The balancing act a woman does with work, family, and everything in between. It can drain her out and make her resort to quick fixes and default options. Her mind can adapt to situations making choices without giving them proper consideration.
This can lead to all sorts of problems. Making her choose familiar things and avoid taking risks or caving under societal pressure. For example, having to cook a healthy dinner? Nah, she might just order takeout. Another opinion to ponder? Well, she took the easy way out.
But here’s the thing, this bias can wreak havoc on a woman’s life. Affecting her career, relationships, and well-being. The good news is you can fight back. Recognize decision fatigue for what it is and find ways to combat it. Prioritize and delegate decisions, and you’ll start making choices that actually make sense.
To combat decision fatigue, delegating responsibilities, practicing self-reflection, and creating space for allowing yourself to make mistakes are serious. Doing this allows you to regain control of your thought process and achieve greater autonomy and contentment.
Finally
Don’t let decision fatigue hold you back. Take control and make smarter decisions. If you require extra support, turn to trusted family or friends; also, look over the resources included in this post for practical steps.
We hope this read gave you an insight into how to overcome this bias. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more on cognitive bias.
Reference
The above article is based on the book Thinking Clearly; this article is here to help us learn and understand how our minds can be tricked by something called cognitive biases.