Overcoming Decision Fatigue [M&M #033]
Listen to the audio version
Hey, do you feel like you’re overwhelmed?
like there’s not enough time in the day and no matter how hard you work there’s rarely a sense of accomplishment that comes with it? In this video, we’re going to look at this problem a little closer and how it affects us freelancers, creators, and other one-person biz’s
and of course, I’ll share some easy fixes that’ll alleviate these issues immediately.
Starting a new business is exciting. 🤩
In all the biz’s I’ve started I always jump in head first feeling energized and passionate about the new venture and what may come of it. However…
With all that excitement comes a lot of responsibility and decision-making on a daily basis. As you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, it's important for you and I to recognize that:
Decision Fatigue is a real thing and can hinder your productivity, success, and overall enjoyment in what you’re building.
Decision fatigue is the exhaustion that sets in after making numerous decisions, day after day, leaving you with less mental energy to make productive choices throughout the day.
I’m talking about the frazzled feeling where your brain just feels fried… not physical exhaustion
Complacency begins to set in and starts to eat away at all the joy and vigor you once had. No wonder over a quarter of all new businesses give up before even making it two years... 😵💫
Good news! There are a variety of ways you can reduce friction in your day-to-day activities to avoid decision fatigue. I’ll share 6 fatigue-reducing strategies that you can use immediately.
Simple Ways to Reduce Decision Fatigue
Meal Prep
One way to minimize decision fatigue is to prepare meals ahead of time that aligns with your health goals. This not only saves you time but also ensures that you are fueling your body with the right nutrients and energy to tackle your day. Try meal prepping for the week on Sundays or invest in a meal delivery service that aligns with your dietary needs and health goals.
It’ll save you some money too. 💰
Habits & Routines
Another way to avoid decision fatigue is to establish routines and habits in your daily life.
I know we talked about the opposite last week in the M&M entry all on ‘The Anti-Routine’ but before you get all crazy on me let me explain…
Simple routines like weekly planning sessions which support your biz goals are great because it becomes habitual. This in turn will make it so much easier to do without feeling like you have to hype yourself up before doing it or think too much about it.
Kind of like brushing your teeth, or bathing… Your brain doesn’t have to work very hard to make it happen because you’ve developed a routine.
Just make sure that you aren’t creating overly complex routines that don’t actually support your goals (like we talked about in last week’s ‘Anti-Routine’ entry). Stop reading for 3hrs a day if it’s not critical research. It may just be an ‘excuse’ for a distraction from the real work you need to be doing. 😉
Say No… A Lot
Saying no to distractions disguised as ‘opportunities’ is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your new biz.
When someone says, “Hey I just want to ‘pick your brain’ for a minute” what they’re actually asking is if you could block out time in your precious day to answer all their questions with little to no return. …and it’ll always take 30x longer than they initially proposed.
Protect your calendar or people will trample you with ‘asks’.
For the record, if you’re able to carve out time to say yes to these things by all means do so. But you’ll be dancing on a slippery slope. Remember that saying no isn’t being mean… It’s you prioritizing the success of your biz and ultimately getting to your dream outcome - a life of autonomy and freedom.
Keep Your Clothes on
Unless of course, you work from home 🙋♂️
How much time or mental energy are you spending staring at all of the clothing options in your closet? This simple moment can become more energy-intensive than it ever should be in my opinion.
I’m a jeans, tshirt, and backwards hat kind of guy. It takes me .005 seconds to figure out what I’m wearing each day. Unless it’s trying to remember which shirt/hat combination I wore the previous week for my youtube video... I try not to wear the same thing twice or people will think I don’t ever do laundry. 🤥
Write Things Down
Writing things down is also a great way to declutter your mind, inspire creativity, and increase self-awareness. Weekly planning sessions can help you prepare for a successful week by tracking projects, tasks, and deadlines. Idea-logging and brainstorming with frameworks can make it feel like a fun puzzle game and help you generate new ideas and solutions.
You’d be surprised how much clearer your mind will feel when you don’t have the pressure of trying to remember x,y,z… I’m also constantly telling my Alexa device to remind me of things. That way I can actually forget about it while not having to worry about accidentally dropping the ball.
Be the Good Kind of Selfish
In addition to these strategies, it's important to prioritize your self-care.
Take breaks throughout the day to rest your mind and recharge your batteries. This can include meditation, exercise, or simply taking a walk outside. By prioritizing your self-care, you are able to show up as your best self and make sound decisions for your business.
What’s your fav way to escape?
My vice is riding dirtbikes 🤩 🏍 #throttletherapy
flying through the air, feeling free as a bird (get a clip from CG jumping)
or sometimes just playing some guitar or getting the call-to-duty (that’s a cod reference for you non-gamers)
The ultimate value here is that,
Reducing friction in the day-to-day can eliminate decision fatigue which will maximize your productivity and success as a solopreneur.
By implementing these simple strategies you can declutter your mind, save time, and begin to live life on your own terms. Let me know which ideas you’ll start with or what you would add to this list.
Until Next Time ✌️🙂
Ev
