3 Ways to Make Impactful & Intentional Choices

Did you know that we make approximately 35,000 decisions every single day? Experts estimate nearly 220 of those decisions are about food alone - so imagine if you’re in the throes of trying to conceive, pregnant, or parenting (and navigating not only your food but that of your child’s) - that number becomes pretty explosive!

While many decisions occur at a subconscious level, decision-making during these phases of life can feel never-ending and quite draining. That’s because not only are you navigating a phase of life that is novel to you (which means decision making requires more research & effort), the consequences of making a poor choice may potentially negatively impact yourself or your children.

As a result, maybe you put off making any decision at all. Or you find yourself incredibly indecisive or paralyzed and unable to make a choice. Or you finally just throw your hands up and make the impulsive choice just to end the saga.

And then… comes the guilt and exhaustion. Sound familiar?

Social psychologist Roy Baumeister coined the term “decision fatigue” to describe this exact  experience. His research showed that our decision-making ability is dulled after being faced with an onslaught of high-stakes decisions where we need to make good choices. And if there was ever a time where you feel the pressure to make not only good but GREAT choices for yourself and your family… this is it!

So what the heck do we do when we’re burned out from decision-making but want to ensure we’re making the optimal choices when possible?

Think Like A President - Eliminate Low-Stakes Decision-Making

When President Obama was in office, he scandalized fashionistas and excited productivity experts by wearing the same outfit every day. That simple change helped him to avoid decision fatigue, freeing up
additional brain power that would be needed for the arguably more important decisions he’d make later that day.

Where in your day can you eliminate the low-stakes decisions? Can you eat the same food for meals to eliminate the “what should we have for dinner” struggle? Can you create a weekday routine designating select time for specific chores rather than letting them happen when you have “free time”? Spend a day tracking the decisions you find yourself making regularly and ask yourself where you can streamline where
possible so that you can put that energy somewhere that would better serve you.

Recognize Decision Paralysis

Decision fatigue happens when we are depleted by the effort it takes to make good decisions repeatedly. Decision paralysis happens when we’re making a decision but are “paralyzed” by the number of options
and feel unable to make a decision. This commonly occurs in the dietary (how/what we/our families eat) or environmental (clothes, toys, etc.) decisions. We often think having a plethora of choices is the consumer’s dream, when in fact it takes a hefty toll mentally and emotionally when we’re left to decipher between basically identical items. Decision paralysis can make us feel overwhelmed, self-doubting, powerless and like we’re stuck in a downward spiral.

Recognizing this experience emotionally lands you in a prime position to do something about it. When faced with a plethora of options, prioritize what matters most to you and use that as criteria to narrow
& eliminate options. If it’s eating organic, say good riddance to anything not conventionally grown. Draw your hard boundaries against anything that doesn’t meet your criteria and make them impermeable. If the options are still unwieldy, select your top 3-5 and give yourself a reasonable amount of time (use a timer!) to do your research and make your decision.

One interesting note about decision paralysis - when we’re stressed or overwhelmed (or facing decision fatigue!), the likelihood of us feeling unable to make a decision is much likelier. So in addition to the steps above, granting yourself compassion and assessing the source behind your depletion will also help!

Choose the “Good Enough” Option

Admit it - how many clickbait articles have you read simply because they’re titled “The Best X”? The best parenting method / prenatal / TTC sex position? Goodness knows, we just love a magic bullet! In the world of decision making, you’re not looking to just make a decision, you’re looking to make the very best decision that will make all of your dreams come true.

Interestingly enough, the research shows us that selecting an option that is simply “good enough” is actually BETTER than choosing the “perfect option!”

Picture this - you’re on the hunt for the perfect multivitamin. You do hours of research, but because you’re committed to finding the perfect one, every time you find a contender that hits all of your criteria, you think to yourself that if you search for a little bit longer, you’ll find an even better option. What you fear most is missing out on that mythical unicorn multivitamin - so even once you make the purchase (if you even get to that point!) you’re still feeling dissatisfied and plagued by buyer’s remorse.

Now let’s visit the alternative universe of the “good enough” decision maker. Ms. Good Enough knows exactly what’s important to her in her multivitamin. She recognizes that given our generous consumerist
culture, there are going to be plenty of multivitamin fish in the sea that will fulfill her needs. So once our gal finds a multivitamin that checks her boxes, she purchases it and goes on to expend her brain power elsewhere.

Surely, it’s easier to see why one individual has a better day than the other. Research tells us that those individuals who seek out the good enough options are not only happier - they have higher life satisfaction, optimism, and are less likely to be clinically depressed. But how can that be when it seems that Ms. Good Enough is settling for mediocracy versus perfection? It’s because 1) the perfect option is a MYTH, like a golden unicorn. We dream about it but it doesn’t actually exist. 2) When we accept that there are multiple
‘good’ options, we’re less likely to have regret or buyer’s remorse. 3) In choosing the good enough option, you are just as committed to finding the item that will fulfill your needs and you’re more efficient in how you spend your energy.

Your life is shaped by the thousands of decisions you make each day. By being cognizant of which are most important to you versus unruly energy zappers, you can be more intentional and impactful in your day-to-day. By tuning in to your own mental and emotional experience, you’ll be better equipped to learn what’s working well versus what isn’t in order to fine-tune and avoid burn out. There are reasons why psychologists and economists have dedicated their careers to decision making and helping us understand how to make better decisions - good decision making is a skill you build, not one that is inherent to us the moment we become adults. With a little practice and self awareness, you too can become a decision making ninja, equipped to design the life you want one decision at a time.