As described in Part I of this blog series, decision fatigue can be experienced as a state of exhaustion from the amount of decisions to be made, and/or feeling unable to make a clear decision. We are particularly vulnerable to decision fatigue during COVID-19, as we are being faced with making decisions about how to engage with our environment and get our needs met in the midst of uncertainty and fear. During this time, it is even more crucial to utilize skills in decision making that help us feel grounded and organized.
Here are some behaviors that will help us approach decision making in a more efficient and sustainable way:
Develop a routine for daily decisions:
Creating a routine can provide structure and organization to your day, relieving yourself of having to mentally re-negotiate the same decisions on a daily basis. For example, develop a routine for daily activities that feels safe to you, and stick to that decision unless you acquire new data that reinforms your routine. Engaging in daily tasks without having to think about how you will approach them each time can conserve your energy for more complex decisions.
Approach decision making in an organized way:
In today’s world, navigating competing values of safety and social needs is a major source of decision making fatigue. We might find ourselves being pulled in opposite directions when these needs are in direct conflict with one another. Developing a step-by-step process to organize decision making could provide a more anchoring experience:
Step 1: What are the factors that make this situation lower or higher risk?
Step 2: What are my values in this situation? Which values are a higher priority based on the perceived level of risk?
Step 3: Now that I have committed to this decision, I need to move forward without ruminating over it.
Remember your influence:
Sometimes decision making can feel provocative because we might worry about making the wrong decision and then being stuck. However, it is important to remember that you can influence a situation, even once you are in it. We can anchor ourselves in doing the best we can to follow a grounded decision making process, and still identify ways that we have influence over our experience once a decision has been made. For example, if you make a decision to attend an outdoor gathering and then notice aspects of the gathering that do not feel safe or comfortable, you can assess the situation and choose to leave. Remembering that we can be flexible with ourselves and influence our actions at every step of the decision making process can relieve us of the pressure to make the “right” decision without having all of the data.
Decision making can be stressful on its own, and even more distressing during this time. If you are feeling exhausted by the decision making process, or would like support in approaching the process in a more organized way, our team of psychologists here at CTWPS are ready to help!