DECISION FATIGUE is a psychological concept that says the quality of our decision making abilities starts to diminish throughout the day. Quite simply reducing the number of decisions you have to make in a day frees up your mental energy for more important decision making; like walking past the cookie jar, prepping meals in advance, having energy left over for a work out. Decision fatigue leads to poor quality of decision making. Quite simply we fall back to easy choices and may even find it difficult to exercise self control after making a series of decisions. When your mental machinery is tired you will find it hard to process information to separate unwanted thinking from the goodness of an idea without the ability to give them a specific direction.

How to overcome decision fatigue

Decision fatigue is a real thing, but its also something completely under your control. You can design a personal system that maximizes your chances of making the best decision.

Employ these practices to avoid decision fatigue and muster up energy to do that work out you said you would do but didn’t because you you were too tired from making decisions all day:

Set up systems

Build routines and good habits instead of relying on will power. Understand willpower is not infinite. It can be small things like knowing what you will wear the next day so you don’t have to waste precious will power on that unnecessary thing. Get your workout gear ready, set up your station for your morning routine, grind your coffee, fill the kettle, plan your breakfast.

Write down your plan. Place it where you can see it and remember that consistency is the key to success in everything we do.

How to start exercising and stick to it

Make exercise an enjoyable part of your everyday life by following a few simple steps:

1. Ditch the all or nothing attitude and add modest amounts of physical activity to your weekly routine.

2. Be kind to yourself: don’t beat yourself up about your body, your current fitness levels or your lack of will power.

3. Check your expectations, expecting too much too soon only leads to frustration. The physical payoff will come in time.

Lacking energy is common when dieting, but having a good strategy to account for this a must both mentally and physically. I hope this has opened your eyes to see how small efforts can make big changes for you and you can achieve your goals with some forward planning.

Be sure to share this so it will help others to find the motivation and willpower to begin their own journey!

Written by Alexandra.
Edited by Deepa