Why Simple Everyday Decisions Feel Overwhelming

A recent study revealed that nearly 1/3 of people struggle to manage day-to-day choices.

Take two minutes to read, explore, and reflect. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Why Simple Everyday Decisions Feel Overwhelming    We're inundated with countless small decisions from the moment we pull our legs over the side of the bed and head into the day. What clothes will we wear? Eggs or yogurt? Packed lunch or fast food? Highway or street roads? To send the email or not? You get the picture.   If these "simple decisions" have been feeling more overwhelming than usual lately, you're not alone. A new survey from the American Psychological Association, which evaluated stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that nearly one-third of people struggle to manage these day-to-day choices.   When you think about it, this "decision fatigue" makes perfect sense. The coronavirus pandemic has forced us all to make more risk-level assessments—a complex task—than perhaps ever before. And in many situations, the result of our decisions could be a matter of life and death. It's no wonder we're all just tired.     High emotion, more complex decision-making, and uncertainty all take a mental toll and can lead to individuals feeling mentally exhausted."  — LYNN BUFKA, PHD What This Means For You Know that if you're feeling overwhelmed by even the simplest-seeming decisions, you're not alone. To ease the stress and exhaustion, allocate time for activities that bring you joy, clear your mind, and keep you present. This might include yoga, meditation, reading, or hiking, for example.   As for everyday tasks, take what you can off your plate, and determine ways you can streamline decision-making. Maybe that means choosing yogurt every day one week then eggs the next or choosing your outfits the night before instead of in the moment. Perhaps it also means task delegation or removal.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week What's Inspiring Us If starting the day feels overwhelming, try starting your morning with the Wake Me Up podcast. It combines mindfulness, meditation, and motivation to help you begin the day on the right foot. Products to Help You Feel Your Best The School of Life's "Emotional Barometer" is a unique tool that allows us to overcome our vague descriptions of how we feel. The deck of cards offers 20 mood definitions that are sometimes tricky to explain to others. Thoughtfully written by Zen monk and meditation master, Thich Nhat Hanh, "You Are Here" emphasizes the power of being mindfully present. The book is easy to grasp even if the concept of mindfulness seems foreign or nebulous. These 10 books about anxiety recommended by a psychotherapist may help you develop strategies for managing the racing thoughts that can interfere with good decision-making. Read These Next Reasons Why You Make Bad Decisions READ NOW 9 Little Habits That Make You a Better Decision Maker READ NOW How to Avoid Groupthink READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy