11 Practical Examples of How I Eliminate Decision Fatigue

Unique strategies I use in my home every day to stop overthinking and why making fewer decisions actually gives me more freedom!

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a messy closet is full of decision fatigue - AI image generated by me

Our days are filled with countless small choices (what to wear, what to eat, when to tackle a task) each one chipping away at our mental energy.

When decision fatigue sets in, even simple choices start to feel overwhelming. This leads to procrastination or defaulting to whatever is easiest in the moment. By streamlining certain decisions ahead of time, I free up my mental space for the things that truly matter.

Instead of feeling trapped, I feel empowered knowing that my systems are working for me, not against me.

One of the things that I do to create more autonomy in my life is eliminate decision fatigue. It may seem like getting stuck in monotony, but I am the one that made the decision. I have strategically decided (ahead of time) a few things that help me not overthink every scenario.

“You might call it a rut, I call it a relief.” - Sarah Von Bargen

Here is my random list of things I do to reduce decision making. Maybe reading these things that are unique to me will help you come up with some that work for you.

1. We only eat fast food on Sunday for lunch.

   This reduces our meal costs during the week and creates an understandable boundary for my kids so they don’t constantly ask for “treats” when we are out.

2. I have tote bags I take for specific places I go to regularly.

   My book bag has my current read, my meal planning notebook, a favorite recipe book, a journal, a snack, and some pens. Our pool bag has towels, quarters for the vending machine, sunscreen, and the kids goggles. My church bag has my travel Bible, a notebook, fancy pens case, mints and random event flyers. (I wrote a post about this but you get my point…😜)

3. I simplified the gurus in my life.

   This idea came from Emily P. Freeman in this podcast episode years ago. The impact it has made has been profound. I still have many sources of inspiration but I no longer feel pulled in opposite directions.

4. I grocery shop exclusively at Aldi’s and a local produce market.

   If I can’t buy it there, then I seriously evaluate our need for it. (This annoys my teenagers.😋) This has reduced trips to big overwhelming grocery mega stores and made shopping easier for me.

5. My Weekly Review keeps all my current tasks and my schedule in check.

   When I sit and do my planning all at one time I can remember all the small things that often slip through the cracks.

6. I put my phone to bed in the living room at night.

   This eliminates the thoughts of checking my phone late at night when I am getting ready for bed, should be sleeping, or early in the morning before my routines. It’s not available so I don’t think about it.

7. I create rhythms and routines that I follow a different times in the day and throughout my week.

   This gives me mental space to think beyond my current moment and gives me times for creative inspiration.

8. My “Homemaking Saturdays”

   My weeks are often full with homeschooling, parenting, and writing tasks. I get some basic homemaking tasks done throughout the week but I save the house reset for Saturdays. This is the day I do my weekly tasks. (watering plants, baking, feeding my sourdough, meal planning, vacuuming, mopping.. etc.) During the week I feel no guilt for these tasks piling up. On Saturday I put in my earbuds with an audiobook and get it all done.

9. I always park in the same area whenever I visit my usual spots.

   It’s one less thing for my tired mom brain to think about. Since I prefer parking farther out and off to the side (I shared why here), keeping it consistent means I never have to pause and wonder where my car is. I just walk out and head straight to the same spot every time, no second-guessing needed.

10. I don’t drink soda, coffee or alcohol.

    (I do enjoy hot tea, iced sweet tea, and I drink lots of water.) I’ve never really been a fan of soda in general. In high school when I ran cross-country our coach told us how terrible soda was for our health and hydration. So, being a people pleaser, I stopped drinking it. Coffee was sadly cut from my life when I got Covid (and IBS) in 2021. I still miss the lovely smell but not the expense and the acid issues. Me and alcohol have never had a thing. I just don’t like it. No judgement on others for drinking, it’s not for me.

11. I have a simplified wardrobe and style.

    My outfits stay the same in different seasons. I also stick to a specific color pallet and the same basics: jeans, shirt, and comfy shoes. I also wear my hair the same each day (messy bun) and I don’t wear makeup.

Instead of wasting time debating what to wear, what to cook, or when to tackle tasks, I can channel my focus into creativity, meaningful time with my family, and the work I’m passionate about.

Fewer choices don’t mean less freedom. They actually create more space for the things that bring joy, purpose, and fulfillment to my life.

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As humans (and specifically Americans) one of our highest values is autonomy. The key to feeling agency and the ability to move forward in hard things is the value of knowing that you have made that decision for yourself.

One of the difficult things about living through a time of illness or medical issues is that so many choices are taken away. A very vibrant and busy life becomes focused on doctor's appointments, medical news, and dealing with symptoms. There is a loss of autonomy.

This happens in a variety of other scenarios as well.

Talking with my 93-year-old grandmother about living through World War II is fascinating because she describes how their entire lives revolved around the war. Everything, including details of home life were affected by the war and the supplies needed. They lost the autonomy of choosing materials, professions, and future plans.

Those are some extreme scenarios, but I feel like they are a good examples of why it can be so frustrating when choice is removed from our lives.

Reflection Questions:

What small things can you do to reduce decision fatigue in your life?

What areas in your life are lacking autonomy right now?

I would love to hear from you!

What are some strange ways that you decide ahead so that you don’t feel constantly overwhelmed with decisions?

Please share in the comments! ⬇️

This post idea came from what Sarah Von Bargen wrote about here:

19 Tiny Ways I Reduce Decision Fatigue

Check it out!

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