Decision Fatigue and Burn Out
Let’s talk about some Tools, Gratitude, Innovation, and Feels relating to decision fatigue and burn out…shall we?
In the last week schools have been grappling with the hard decision of what the school year will look like. Whether you like the decision or not, the anxiety and uncertainty is not over yet. With one decision, it feels like there are 50 other decisions to make.
What do I do about work?
Should I just homeschool?
How does this impact my choices at daycare or preschool?
Do I need to hire help?
Do I need to find new doctors?
Formula or breastfeeding?
How can I help my child thrive?
What about a co-op for school?
And of course many more.
If you’re not a parent, simple decisions like:
Should I go to that wedding?
Should I get take-out or delivery?
Should I travel?
Should I attend that outdoor party?
What do I do about work?
Who should I see?
Who should I let into my house?
And the inevitable question after each decision is made, “Was that the right decision?”
All of this decision making and weighing of consequences absolutely creates decision fatigue and burnout. We start questioning our judgement, trust in ourselves and even others. We lose clarity and insight. We are simply exhausted.
So what do you do about it?
TOOLS
With making any decision, the best tool is a simple rule:
Make the next best decision.
You cannot make a decision based on what you think or hope or fear will happen. We cannot control the future. Annoying, I know.
All we can do is make a decision right now based on what we know right now, which oftentimes is limited.
GRATITUDE
I know some of you may be saying, “But how do I know if it is the best decision right now?!”
I get it. Sometimes we’re so bogged down and foggy in the brain that we cannot see the forest from the trees.
So ask yourself, “How do I want to feel after I’ve made this decision?”
You do not want to feel guilty, anxious, questioning or stuck in comparison.
You want to feel confident, trusting, secure and authentic.
Only you knows what is best. Not your mom, dad, sister, spouse, therapist, teacher, administrator, boss or child.
Gratitude is the practice of being happy with what is. The only way you’ll overcome decision fatigue is to make the decision and be content with it.
INNOVATION
We are learning more about burnout every day. Right now, levels of burnout amongst adults and kids are skyrocketing. Why?
Because every decision feels like, literally, life or death. Every decision feels like it carries giant consequences for our physical health and mental health. And you have to make thousands of decisions a day.
By enacting the practices described above, you can relieve some burnout. But what you need, more than anything else, is clarity.
And the most innovative, revolutionary and counterintuitive way to get clarity is by slowing down.
Slow down to speed up.
You’ll be able to make authentic decisions that leave you feeling content when you slow down enough to clear out the clutter in your mind. You then will have the space to drop into a wise, centered place. It is from that place that clarity comes.
FEELS
I want you to know you’re not alone. That if you’re feeling especially exhausted, I feel you. Not only am I too struggling with childcare options but also sleep training a 4 month old! I know that for me, when I’m tired and burned out, I very quickly slip into depression. Sad, morbid thoughts fill my mind. It’s hard for me to see anything clearly.
I offer this advice because I’m alongside you in this journey and me and our team can help you navigate through this. I’ve learned the tools to help me slow down and get to that place of clarity so I can trust in my decisions.
Please also reach out if you or someone you know is going to especially struggle this school-year. We’re creating resources for kids, families and educators to offer diverse, accessible assistance. Please let us know what would be a helpful way to serve and we’ll meet your needs.
Click here to learn more about stress counseling.
