Decision fatigue happens when, after making many decisions at once, a person’s ability to make decisions declines. A 2021 survey by the American Psychological Association revealed that 32% of U.S. adults found it difficult to make basic choices like selecting clothes, a problem that intensified with stress.
Millennials and Generation Z reported the highest rates, with 48% and 37% respectively stating that pandemic stress made even minor decisions harder. Parents with children under 18 faced greater challenges, as 47% struggled with daily choices compared to 30% of adults without children at home. The survey also showed racial disparities: 38% of Hispanic adults and 36% of Black adults said stress impaired their decision-making, while the figure for non-Hispanic White adults was lower.
The idea of decision fatigue originated in 1998, when scientists suggested humans have limited self-control. Like a vehicle running out of fuel, people eventually deplete their mental energy, leading to impulsive or avoidant behavior. Dr. Gustav Tinghög, an associate professor at Linköping University in Sweden, explained that repeated decisions involving trade-offs speed up this exhaustion.
Related: Cardiology Software Features Hospitals Must Evaluate
“Evaluating risks and benefits is mentally demanding,” Tinghög said. “Under stress, people often rely on shortcuts rather than careful analysis.”
Decision fatigue isn’t limited to choices. Any activity requiring self-control—such as managing emotions, concentrating on complex tasks, or physical exertion—can drain the same mental resources. Dr. Grant Pignatiello, a clinical research scholar at Case Western Reserve University, noted that “[d]ecision fatigue can manifest after repeated or effortful attempts of self-control.”
Several factors are associated with a higher risk of decision fatigue, including chronic exposure to stress, work complexity, low knowledge and experience of independent decision making, a lack of direct managerial supervision, a high workload, and a lack of time to make decisions.
Related: Family Friendly Campgrounds 5 Recommended 5 to Skip
Symptoms of decision fatigue include brain fog, irritability, and physical tiredness, often worsening later in the day. Tinghög suggested monitoring for unexplained changes in decision-making or a sense of mental depletion before important choices. Pignatiello identified additional warning signs: difficulty with routine decisions, emotional overwhelm, or memory lapses.
Both experts shared ways to reduce the effects. Pignatiello recommended removing trivial decisions—like planning outfits or meals in advance—to save mental energy for more important matters. “Be kind to yourself,” he said. “If you need rest, take it. Sleep matters; my research connects poor sleep to worse decision fatigue.”
Tinghög advised consulting trusted friends to reduce anxiety around decisions and reminded readers that most choices aren’t final. “Look back at past decisions occasionally,” he said. “Not to dwell on them, but to recognize patterns—like when fatigue may have led to a poor outcome.”