Easy Ways To Beat Fatigue And Stress When You Feel Overwhelmed

Do you ever get the feeling, after a busy day at work or running around after children, or both, that if you’re asked to make another decision your brain might just explode? It’s sometimes the reason why having to decide what’s for dinner can be a step too far.

Well, it turns out it’s a real phenomenon – it’s called decision fatigue.

beat decision fatigue reduce stress — Photo: 123RF

According to experts at Florida State University, it’s the reason so many normally logical, rational people end up making silly, snap decisions when things end up in the “too hard” basket.

We’re lacking the mental energy for our brain to go through the convoluted process it has to negotiate each time it has to make a decision, so it starts taking shortcuts instead. Either we make a rash decision, because it’s quicker, or we fail to make any decision at all.

A series of controlled tests took place with participants in a series of decision-testing situations: grocery buying at the supermarket, bargain hunting at shopping malls, and weighing up which car to buy at a car dealership.

The evidence was easy to see: we have a finite amount of brain space dedicated to making decisions – so use the brainspace early on, for the decisions that matter. Here are six ways to curb decision fatigue and feel less stressed:

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Easy Ways To Beat Fatigue And Stress When You Feel Overwhelmed

1. Introduce a few 'non-negotiables' into your weekly schedule

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For instance, if your Saturday morning yoga class is a non-negotiable, or Sunday brunch with the kids, the decision is already made for you!

2. Don't schedule back-to-back meetings

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Back-to-back meetings may seem more productive, they may actually poison your productivity instead and take a toll on your mental and physical well-being over time. This is because at every meeting, your to-do list seems to pile up and up, leaving you feeling more overwhelmed.

Besides taking purposeful breaks in-between, try to space out your meetings so that you can find some balance, or try these expert’s hacks to boost productivity without going crazy. If you’re not in the position to schedule meetings, speak with your supervisor.

3. Tackle your big tasks in the morning

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Instead of spending the first hour sifting through your emails or catching up on social media, set the stage for the rest of your day by handling the heavier tasks first instead of putting them off for later. These are tasks that you know will take up the bulk of your energy for the day. By doing so, you may feel more accomplished which can motivate you to complete your other tasks.

Having something big at the back of your mind the whole day can be mentally and emotionally taxing, so make your mornings super productive by getting them sorted first thing.

4. Have the same breakfast every day, and organise your lunches in advance

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When you’re time-strapped, you need to ensure that you don’t neglect your meals. However, you can minimise the number of meal-time decisions by sticking to a set morning routine. The same goes for lunch. This takes the steam off you having to make smaller decisions that can deplete your energy. Here are 5 easy and healthy work lunch ideas to get you started.

5. Have a 'work uniform'

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This mean you wear the same outfit every day, or a ‘work week’ collection of five outfits you wear every week – like fashion designers Emilia Wickstead and Vera Wang.

Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of healthcare company Theranos, whose own uniform is a black turtleneck, says, “It makes it easy, because every day you put on the same thing and don’t have to think about it – one less thing in your life. All my focus is on the work.”

6. Set up regular appointments to exercise at the same time every day or week

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Keeping healthy and fit is essential in helping you manage stress, so try to build the habit of a set exercise regime. Whether it’s signing up for a barre or spin class, taking up yoga on Saturdays, or going for a light jog or run in the mornings, you’re more likely to actually workout if you have fixed a schedule for it.

Text: Bauer / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew”
Photos: Pexels

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