From the moment we get up in the morning until we fall asleep, we’re constantly having to make decisions. Whether it’s what to wear to the office or where to get our morning coffee (arguably the most important decision of all) we’re constantly in ‘on’ mode and always making choices. In fact, according to Psychology Today, multiple sources say we make up to 35,000 decisions a day.

While there are choices that we make in our personal lives, ranging from inconsequential to monumental, we’re constantly making decisions in our professional lives, too. And, given we spent the majority of our daytime hours at work, it’s safe to say we’re making plenty of decisions on company time – especially as it’s part of what we’re paid to do.

But, what about when it all feels a bit too much? Maybe it’s the frustration that comes from having to meet tight deadlines with not enough resource, the sinking feeling of seeing back-to-back meetings in your calendar or the sheer exhaustion of having to send yet another reply on an email thread that’s already spanning dozens of responses. 

Whether it’s one issue or multiple issues, it can quickly become overwhelming: and that’s where decision fatigue can start to creep into your professional life. “Decision fatigue occurs when you become mentally exhausted after making too many decisions in one day,” explains LinkedIn career expert Charlotte Davies. “The need for quick decision-making has increased due to professionals now being bombarded with emails and messages all day, which can lead to burnout. Employees now need to juggle multiple responsibilities, often switch between tasks, and make both big and small decisions quickly, which can lead to fatigue where the quality of decisions worsens as the day goes on.”

It appears the problem is a prevalent one in workplaces. One study found that 37% of employees are dealing with burnout from constant decision making, highlighting just how serious the problem can be. So, just how can you identify your decision fatigue and how do you go about tackling it? Stylist asked three career experts for their input and advice. 

As Davies says, decision fatigue can accumulate and lead to burnout. So, it’s important to identify when you’re feeling overloaded so you can begin to tackle this. “An obvious sign of decision fatigue is that feeling of overwhelm that gets worse as the day goes on,” says Jessica Brewer, career coach and founder of Emiz HR & Coaching. “When you start the day you might feel super productive, but, as the day wears on, you notice you’re avoiding responding to emails and Slack messages. Your work starts to take longer, or you notice some of the decisions you make later in the day are impulsive and less thought-through, causing problems for you later down the line.”

Brewer also adds that you might find yourself being short with colleagues or your loved ones when you get home. “These are all small signs that get normalised and often require space to take a step back and notice,” she says. 

When you manage your time well, decisions should be easier to make, as you’re not having to constantly switch between tasks and different mindsets. “Ineffective time management practices can lead to rushed decisions, increasing stress and reducing the quality of decision-making,” explains Kelly Tucker, managing director at HR Star. “Try using time management tools, like time blocking, which allows you to focus on high-priority tasks and avoid becoming overwhelmed by less critical decisions.”

Another way to stop your decisions from becoming overwhelming is by grouping them into categories and dealing with each category one at a time. “Group similar tasks and decisions together to reduce the amount of time and effort you need to spend thinking about them,” suggests Davies. “For instance, allocate a regular time in the day to respond to emails or make minor decisions. This will help create routine and help you to stay in a focused mindset rather than constantly switching gears.”

If you’re a manager and feeling decision fatigue, there’s a good chance your team are feeling it, too. So, it’s important to take the time to talk and determine what can be done to support them. “When employees feel supported, they’re more likely to make confident decisions without excessive stress,” says Tucker. “Empower team members to make decisions within their areas of expertise – this not only reduces the decision-making burden on leaders, but also fosters a sense of ownership and confidence among employees,” she adds.

Images: Getty