Decision Fatigue

Sometimes, the most daunting decision of my day is simply figuring out what to have for dinner. It might sound trivial, especially considering that I juggle the responsibilities of being a mother and an employee, where I regularly tackle significant decisions with far-reaching consequences. Yet, it’s precisely because of those weighty choices that the small ones—like what to have for dinner—can feel insurmountable.

By the time evening rolls around, after a whirlwind of errands and preparing for the next day, I find myself standing in front of the fridge, staring blankly at its contents. Or perhaps someone will ask where I’d like to eat, and I can feel the fatigue wash over me. The thought of making yet another decision is exhausting. I’m worn out - plain and simple. It’s in these moments that the simplest choices become the hardest.

When I rise in the morning, my day isn’t just about me. I’m managing the calendars of three people, coordinating dentist appointments, practice schedules, and planning for birthdays and holidays. At work, I’m faced with a barrage of marketing decisions that demand my full attention. Even after leaving the office, I’m busy crafting Etsy designs and planning my photo schedule. All I want by the end of the day is a little relief—someone else to make the dinner choice for me. We all know what everyone enjoys, so when someone else steps in to decide, it feels like a small miracle, lifting a weight off my shoulders.

We don’t always need grand gestures and big nights out; sometimes we just need someone to see we are tired and relieve us of defining the small details.

So if you know a woman, give her a gift; make the dinner plans for her. Find the babysitter so she doesn’t have to. Give her the gift of someone else taking the weight of decision making off of her for even just a night. It will go a long way in recharging her soul.