Decision Fatigue: When Even Choosing What’s for Dinner Feels Like Too Much
You know that feeling when even deciding what’s for dinner makes you want to wave a white flag? When the thought of making one more choice - any choice - feels like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops?
Yeah, that’s decision fatigue. And if you’re nodding your head right now, you’re not alone.
The Silent Drain of Constant Choices
As a mom coach, I see it all the time: that constant pressure to make all the choices, every single day, slowly draining our mental energy until we’re running on fumes. And here’s the crazy part - it doesn’t even have to be “big” decisions that push us over the edge. Sometimes it’s just the non-stop little choices that pile up until we’re ready to hide under the covers.
What Decision Fatigue Really Looks Like
It’s more than just being tired. It’s a mental exhaustion that makes every little choice feel like a massive task. Let me paint you a picture:
Procrastinating the Small Stuff
You know you’re deep in decision fatigue when choosing what to watch on TV feels as complicated as solving a quantum physics equation. Even picking out your clothes becomes a mental marathon.
Avoiding Decisions
I recently worked with a client who found herself ignoring emails and putting off calls - not because she didn’t know what to do, but because she was too mentally drained to decide anything. Sound familiar?
The Irritability Factor
When little things start setting you off, and you find yourself snapping over whether the kids should wear the blue shirt or the red one - that’s decision fatigue talking.
Breaking Free from the Choice Overload
So what can we do when every decision feels like too much? Here are some strategies I use with my clients to help lighten that mental load:
Simplify Your Routines
This isn’t about creating a military-grade schedule. It’s about reducing the number of decisions you face each day. One of my clients transformed her mornings simply by:
Setting up the coffee maker the night before
Laying out clothes for the next day
Prepping lunches ahead of time
Small steps, huge impact.
The Power of No
Letting go of “I should” might be the most powerful tool in your arsenal. Try this: Pick one thing to say “no” to this week. Maybe it’s:
Skipping that social event you’re dreading
Ordering takeout instead of cooking
Letting the laundry wait another day
Simple Systems That Save Sanity
Don’t let the word “systems” scare you - we’re not talking about color-coded spreadsheets here. Think more along the lines of:
A rotating meal plan you can reuse
A designated snack shelf kids can access themselves
A simple morning routine that runs on autopilot
The “Good Enough” Revolution
Here’s a question I love asking my clients: “If you were just doing this ‘good enough,’ what would it look like?” Watch how quickly that question brings relief. Because guess what? Not every choice needs to be perfect.
Your Mental Load Reset
Try this quick check-in when decision fatigue hits:
One Choice to Skip:
What’s one decision you can let go of today? Give yourself permission to not decide everything.
One Joy to Notice:
What made you smile today? Even tiny moments count.
One Boundary to Set:
What “should” can you say no to right now?
Breaking Free from Decision Overload
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the constant weight of choices, know this: You don’t have to carry this load alone. Through my 1:1 coaching, we can:
Create simple but effective routines
Build practical boundary-setting strategies
Develop realistic ways to preserve your mental energy
Design systems that actually work for your life
Let’s talk about lightening your mental load.
Discover how we can work together to make decision-making feel less overwhelming.
Remember: You don’t have to decide everything, and you definitely don’t have to decide everything perfectly. Sometimes the best choice is choosing not to choose right now.
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