Decision Fatigue

Decision Fatigue

From the very first moment we start a new day, we are forced to make a decision. Should we sleep five more minutes and have a rushed breakfast? Or wake up and get ready more comfortably before going to work? In this world where options are increasing, we have to make choices in almost every area of life.

From what we will watch to what we will eat, from which profession we will choose to what kind of life we will live, we are constantly expected to make decisions. Among the questions we hear most often are “Have you decided?” and “So what will you do?” and many similar variations. In this new world where options are so diverse, answering these questions is not very easy. Rather than offering better alternatives, this abundance of options seems to tire us out.

The decisions we make unconsciously throughout the day—what to wear, what to eat, where to start first, and many more—fill our time. As the day progresses, our minds get tired and we begin to choose not the best option, but the easiest one. Making decisions actually brings along various concerns that occupy our minds in the background. We want to choose the best, the most beautiful outfit, the healthiest option. Many of us have experienced a similar situation: before making a decision, we think a lot, weigh all possibilities, and carefully examine every detail. Afterwards, we start thinking about the option we had eliminated before. Suddenly, we question whether the choice we didn’t make was actually the right one. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to stand behind the decisions we make in life. A decision does not have to be the most correct or the most logical one. What remains from what we have given up is the decision we make. It belongs to us. Perhaps what helps us grow the most is making a decision and standing behind it. Under the responsibility of our decision, we feel the need to chase even more possibilities.

In life, there is not just one correct answer; there are simply many options. However, there is a pressure on us: you must choose the most qualified school, the highest-paying profession, the most “correct” relationship. As this pressure increases, we feel crushed under the responsibility of our decisions. Our self-confidence may weaken. Pressure makes it harder to hear our inner voice. Yet, in my opinion, our inner voice is the most accurate guide in the decision-making process. It whispers the place where we will be happy, the path where we will find peace. As we gain experience in making decisions, instead of getting lost among options, we learn to listen to ourselves. Perhaps the right decision is sometimes simply being able to hear our inner voice.