Decision Fatigue - It is REAL!

Psalm 141:2-5

Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness, Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.

Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it.

Do you feel like a split personality on a daily basis?

Can’t you feel the tension, confusion and desperation David is feeling is the above scripture? The fact that it mentions specifically that he is praying in the evening caught my attention, most of the psalms don’t have this detail. This is significant because it points out that he might be struggling what we now refer to as decision fatigue. Decision fatigue is a documented reality that is talked quite a bit in neuro and behavior science. They are starting to quantify that we humans think anywhere between 60,000 and 90,000 thoughts on any given day 🤯. Isn’t that amazing!?!

Have you ever noticed or felt like you are 2 people in one? There is the determined and focused morning version and then the evening version that is just happy to get to the couch and watch some tv! You are not alone, we all live in this reality of feeling like a split personality Part of what is happening is referred to as decision fatigue. It takes a lot of brain power to make decisions, which is why the brain is always looking to put as many things on autopilot as it can aka habits! The more things it can put into a routine, habit or autopilot the more power is has to make decisions as needed.

When we do the hard work, and it is hard work, of making changes to our habits it is mentally and sometimes physically exhausting. This is why we can’t just rely on ‘want’ power, ‘wish’ power or think we can just ‘wing’ it. What we want can literally change from morning to evening, which is why many of us feel so frustrated and feel caught in an eternal ground hogs day. When you don’t know this tidbit of science this frustration often turns to negative self talk and thinking that there is something wrong with you and you might say things to yourself like ‘why can’t I get this, what’s wrong with me’. You might be comparing yourself to the ‘after’ version of someone and mistakenly think that they were just able to change by just ‘deciding and doing it perfectly’. But you didn’t see the struggle part - it is real - for everyone! We all would also be so much better off if we would share our struggles, be real, vulnerable and honest!

This is why community, support, science and tools like pre-planning, pre-deciding and being pre-pared are game changers! It takes into account that decision fatigue is real and it does happen and not only is something not wrong with you, but it is an indication that things right with you and that things are working!! The resistance is a good sign!! It is supposed to happen, because your brain is a super computer trying to help you! This why we can learn from David’s role modeling - he is reaching out for help when he needs it! He is admitting that the temptation is real, he is looking for help to come. He also knows he might not ‘like’ it with his reference to medicine, and knowing the human propensity to resist medicine even though we know it is good for us in the long run, in the moment it is hard to swallow!

God is so good! There is so much wisdom and science in the word! It was exactly the word I needed too. I have been struggling with sleep the past week and have been off of my regular routine and schedule. With lack of sleep and decision fatigue it can be very tempting to give into the body’s cravings and look for extra energy where ever it can get it, and not move as much. There is no need to be angry or upset with myself about it, it is my body trying to take care of me. I have a mind though that understands what is happening and can take advantage of and use my tools of being prepared and pre-decided to eat more nourishing foods, that give me a more sustainable source of energy, to still get movement and to take some melatonin when I need it to help with my off balance sleep cycles etc. To pray in the moment of decision fatigue as David did and even through my hands up in desperation admitting my struggle. Prayer and journaling redirects our minds and shifts our perspective and it acknowledges the struggle, this act helps remind ourselves of what our true desires are so we can overcome our momentary temptations.

I would invite you to think about decision fatigue, especially if this is a new concept to you. Have you felt like a Jekyll/Hyde on certain days? This might be why! This is part of why I rely on my morning routine so heavily and take the time, it helps me later in the day. But I am still human, even with these good habits, and being prepared decision fatigue still shows up. It is hard, changing your ways permanently and for the long run is hard, but it is so worth it. Eventually your mind and body catch up with your new ways and then it isn’t hard anymore, it is just who you are. So with time, practice and perseverance and support, you can do this too!There is nothing special about me, if I can do it trust me anyone can do it, including you!!

Journal Prompt

How do you handle decision fatigue? Did you even know this was something that was a ‘thing’? Does knowing that you are not alone and that you just human, help?

JIC You still don't believe me that this is real - here is a funny video that confirms that we are not alone and this is a real thing!