When Every Choice Feels Like a Mountain: My Simple Fixes for Decision Fatigue

This forces quick choices on low-stakes items to prevent overthinking.

1. 1
   Identify trivial decisions — Things like what to eat for lunch, which podcast to listen to, or which route to take home. Write down 3 examples from yesterday.
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   Use a timer — When one comes up, set a timer for 2 minutes on your phone. I use the clock app—no fancy tools needed.
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   Commit to the first option — Pick whatever comes to mind first when the timer starts. If it's lunch, go with the first restaurant you think of.
4. 4
   Move on immediately — Once the timer beeps, act on it without second-guessing. Literally walk away or close the tab.

Grouping decisions into one session reduces mental switching costs.

1. 1
   List decision categories — Think meals, errands, emails, and social plans. I keep a note in my phone with these four.
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   Schedule a 'decision hour' — Pick a low-energy time—I do Sundays at 4 p.m. Set aside 60 minutes for this only.
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   Tackle one category at a time — Plan all meals for the week using a template (e.g., Monday: pasta, Tuesday: stir-fry). Use a meal kit if it helps.
4. 4
   Use templates for repeat tasks — For emails, create 2-3 standard responses. For errands, map out a single weekly route.
5. 5
   Review and adjust — Spend 5 minutes at the end to note what worked. I skip this if I'm tired—perfection isn't the goal.

This offloads a regular decision to someone else or a system.

1. 1
   Pick a draining decision — Something you face daily or weekly—like what to watch, what groceries to buy, or when to exercise.
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   Find a delegate — Ask a partner to choose dinners on Tuesdays, or use a coworker to pick meeting times. I have my roommate pick our Friday movie.
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   Set up automation — Use tools: auto-pay bills, subscription boxes for clothes, or calendar blocks for deep work. I use a budgeting app that categorizes expenses automatically.
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   Test for a week — Try it out without micromanaging. If it fails, tweak it—maybe switch to a different app or adjust the schedule.
5. 5
   Evaluate and expand — After a month, see if you feel lighter. If yes, add one more—I automated coffee orders next.

This pre-chooses an option for common scenarios, so you don't rethink each time.

1. 1
   Identify frequent decisions — Look at your day: morning drink, work break activity, evening wind-down. Mine were coffee vs. tea, walk vs. scroll, read vs. TV.
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   Assign a default — Pick one option as the automatic choice. My defaults: coffee at 8 a.m., 10-minute walk at 3 p.m., read at 9 p.m.
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   Stick to it for 21 days — No deviations unless there's a real reason (like bad weather). It feels rigid at first, but it becomes habit.