Indecision Fatigue: The Hidden Energy Thief Sabotaging Your Productivity
Indecision Fatigue is a silent thief stealing more of your mental energy than you even realize.
Here’s the principle: The more energy we spend trying to make small decisions, the less energy we have to focus on bigger ideals and principles and things that will really move our work forward. It’s anything from an email that you look at in your inbox and decide to respond to later, to a major decision you have to make that you just won’t make.
Here’s the problem. Every time you think about that area that you have to make a decision in, you have to pull it off the shelf, go through the pros and the cons and the worst case scenarios that could happen, but then you don’t make a decision. Instead, you put it back on the shelf! The next time you think about it, off the shelf it comes again, and you go through that same process again, using so much mental energy!
But wait! It gets worse.
The American Psychological Association found in their research that the stress of an uncertain situation is greater than the stress of making a bad decision. Indecisiveness can lead to increased mental burden and negatively impact quality of life.
In other words, you have greater stress coming when you won’t make a decision than you do if you make a decision and it’s a bad one.
So what do you do? If you often find yourself stuck in indecision fatigue, here are four suggestions:
Set Decision Deadlines
Create a deadline for when you want to have that decision made by. This creates a sense of urgency and prevents endless deliberation.
Define Certainty Levels
Colin Powell, who is a brilliant military commander, had a 40/70 rule that he followed. He said that when it comes to making a decision, he aimed to be between 40 and 70 percent sure that it was going to work. If it was less than 40% the risk was too high. If it was more than 70%, the opportunity probably already passed and action should have been taken sooner. I apply that rule in my own writing. I feel like if I’ve got the content between about 40% and 70%, that’s when I should write my blogs or my articles. If it’s less than 40%, it’s not going to have a lot of value. If it’s more than 70%, I’ve probably spent more time trying to wordsmith it than I should.
Consider The Cost Of Inaction
Consider the cost of NOT making the decision. Reflect on how indecision affects your focus, relationships, and overall well-being. Recognize the mental toll of carrying unresolved decisions.
Track Your Energy Expenditure
Every time you think about that decision, make a note in your smart phone, or just kind of keep track on how many times it pops into your head or how much time you think about it and look at all of the energy you are wasting because you’re not making a decision.
The Benefits of Decisive Action
By implementing these strategies, you can:
Reduce stress levels
Improve mental clarity
Create more cognitive space for important tasks
Enhance overall productivity and life satisfaction
The goal is not to make perfect decisions every time, but to make timely choices that allow you to move forward. To learn how to make important decisions in the small moments, check out my Jones Zone Video here.
By mastering the art of decision-making, you'll free up mental resources to focus on what truly matters, propelling both your work and personal life to new heights.
