How to combat Decision Fatigue

In the depths of daily choices, some mundane and some consequential, I find myself navigating a complex web of decisions. Starting with deciding whether to drink my coffee at home or in the car, I make nonstop choices all day. Do I stop the behavior that’s interrupting my lesson or keep going? Should I send the coughing student to the nurse or ignore it? Middle school teachers make a minimum of 1500 decisions every day, according to Education Week. That’s 3 per minute over an 8 hour day. No wonder educators experience decision fatigue.

What is decision fatigue?

Decision fatigue is a term used to describe the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision making. In other words, the more decisions a person has to make in a short period of time, the lower our ability to make decisions.

Teachers experiencing decision fatigue report an increase in impulsive decision making. As your ability to make well thought-out decision decreases, the likelihood of making impulsive decisions increases.

Some teachers avoid making decisions or feel decision paralysis, an inability to make decisions, when it gets to be too much. I plan my dinner menus for the week every Sunday because I simply can’t make a decision by the end of the day.

Combating Decision Fatigue in Middle School Teachers

Here are some tips and tricks you can try to reduce your decision fatigue:

• Establish routines. Creating predictable routines and structures reduces the number of decisions you have to make in a given day by automating certain aspects of your workflow.
• Prioritize tasks. Identify those items which absolutely require your attention and do them first. Focus on what’s important and leave the rest for later.
• Set limits. Conserve your mental energy by limit the number of times you check your email or handle routine administrative tasks.
• Seek support. Collaborate with your colleagues to distribute decision making responsibilities. You pick the lab for the week and let your coworker choose the assessment.
• Let your students make some decisions. Would they prefer their desks in rows or tables? Should they clean up the lab or work on the analysis questions first? Not everything has to be in your brain.
• Practice self care. Establish clear work-home boundaries and make sure you get your down time.

In conclusion, understanding and recognizing decision fatigue can be a game-changer in our daily lives. From choosing what to wear in the morning to making critical decisions in our professional roles, we all experience the effects of decision fatigue. By implementing strategies like establishing routines, setting limits, and prioritizing tasks, we can navigate through decision-making challenges more effectively. Remember, it’s okay to take breaks, seek support, and prioritize self-care to recharge our mental batteries. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by a barrage of choices, take a moment to pause, breathe, and simplify. Your future self will thank you for it!