A few years ago, a
friend of mine went to buy a deodorant. I was with him, but I stayed at the
entrance of the supermarket with the person who was hosting us. After twenty
minutes, she started to get worried - how long could it take to choose one
deodorant? I went to check, and there he was, staring at a small shelf with
only a handful of options… Twenty minutes, and still no decision.
Now imagine someone
like him, but at the end of a long, exhausting day. They still need to call
three people, buy a gift, fill out a work form and complete travel paperwork.
Each small choice adds up until the brain feels like it’s running on fumes.
An official report drew
my attention: When Good People Make Bad Decisions. Of course, anyone can
make a mistake because of ignorance, poor planning or pressure, but sometimes,
even very good and competent people make bad decisions due to another factor:
decision fatigue.
People who are smart,
trained, capable and kind mess up because of being worn out from choosing and
deciding, again and again.
This is what
psychologists call decision fatigue. As psychotherapist Natacha Duke
explains, it isn’t a medical condition but a very real phenomenon: the more
decisions you make throughout the day, the more mentally, emotionally and
physically drained you become. Decisions are made by the intellect or buddhi (Sanskrit),
which is your executive functioning - the part of you that decides, plans and
prioritizes. It starts to falter and when that slips, so does a good decision.
That’s why
firefighters, pilots and doctors often rely on protocols and checklists, which reduce
unnecessary decisions and the energy is saved to be used for the critical ones.
Maybe you can create protocols for your own life, suited to your needs, or
simply start building habits, simplifying routines and taking “decision breaks”
(a period of reflection, disconnecting from demanding circumstances,
meditation). It will make a big difference.
And maybe, there’s
also a more spiritual side to this. Not every decision has to be wrestled with logic.
Some choices get lighter when we pause, breathe, meditate and connect with a
deeper sense of clarity. Better decisions come from a calmer place.
So, the next time
you’re standing in front of a shelf - whether of deodorants or crucial life
choices - remember: sometimes the smartest move is to step back, clear your
mind and only then, make a good decision.
