The Mental Bandwidth Shortage
Modern life has taken a toll on our mental bandwidth.
Among other things, the cost of facing so many decisions in daily life has left us on the knife edge of exhaustion. Decision fatigue is common which curtails our ability to plan, set goals, and handle distractions.
On average, an American adult makes 35,000 decisions per day (Sollisch).
Seriously?
That seems impossible, right? But let’s think about this.
The reality is that we make many decisions that we aren’t aware of and the plethora of choices available in the 21st century have skyrocketed. Jobs have shifted from manual to largely knowledge-based fields and the number of dual career couples and single parent homes have increased six-fold. Homes that traditionally had at least one person dedicated to supporting personal and family life have diminished, and career relocations have become more common.
We spend more time on tech sifting through email, apps, social media posts, netflix options, and shopping sites than ever before. A cacophony of pop-ups and advertisements vying for your attention can send you down a rabbit hole of more information that you never intended to pursue. Information overload is the norm in the modern environment. And…the decision to ignore is also a decision.
While automation and technological advances, such as the washing machine, have helped us decrease manual labor, decisions required to complete basic chores still exist. While we have more options for communicating virtually, the overwhelming volume of information is incessant. New technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) will also require new levels of education as they evolve at an ever increasing pace. Artificial intelligence may be helpful, but whether it can keep pace with the evolution and growth of technology well enough to unload our mental bandwidth is still a question.
No wonder we feel at the end of our rope.
Despite the incredible capacity of the human mind, with a memory equal to 2.5 petabytes (the equivalent of 2.5 million gigabytes of memory), there are a finite number of decisions we can make regardless of the importance of them. After a long session of decision making, mental fatigue inevitably sets in. It affects everyone to some extent, but certain people may experience it more intensely.
Those most susceptible to decision fatigue include:
Leaders and Executives: Those in leadership roles often face a multitude of decisions on a daily basis, ranging from strategic choices to day-to-day operational matters. The weight of their decisions and the constant need to make choices can lead to decision fatigue. Leaders without strong teams, those who work in industries with high turnover rates, or insufficient staff are most vulnerable.
People in High-Stress Environments: Individuals working in high-stress environments, such as emergency responders, healthcare professionals, educators, or military personnel, may experience heightened decision fatigue due to the pressure and intensity of their work. Parents that are caregivers to children or family members with special needs, dementia, or other health challenges. The number of children affected by learning disabilities is on the rise and Alzheimer’s is predicted to triple by 2050.
Those with Limited Cognitive Resources: People dealing with other cognitive challenges, such as sleep deprivation, illness, or environments requiring multitasking, may be more susceptible to decision fatigue because their cognitive resources are already depleted. Over 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia.
Those Facing Overwhelming Choices: When individuals are presented with an overwhelming number of choices, decision fatigue can set in. Shopping giant superstores with one hundred brands of mustard, surfing online stores with thousands of product options, or scrolling through hundreds of netflix shows can contribute to decision fatigue.
Those in Poverty or Working with Limited Budgets: Research suggests that individuals experiencing poverty may be more prone to decision fatigue. The constant need to make financial decisions with limited resources can lead to mental exhaustion. This also applies to bootstrapping entrepreneurs, directors of nonprofits, or managers in public service who must decide how to allocate resources when need exceeds the budget.
Chronic Decision Makers: Individuals who consistently make decisions without breaks or time for recovery are more likely to experience decision fatigue. At risk are those who are CEO of business and home, single parents, caregivers to children and aging parents, or following spouses that take on the lion share of daily decisions.
The number of single parents in the United States from 1950 to 2023
It's important to note that the impact of decision fatigue can vary from person to person, and external factors like the complexity of decisions and the individual's overall well-being play a role.
So how can we help alleviate this problem for ourselves when we are already feeling overextended?
There are strategies that can help the mind mitigate decision fatigue.
I invite you to attend a free presentation on February 15 from 1-2 pm to explore various techniques to defray mental fatigue. Free lunch is provided by Cereset Cherry Creek, the host of this presentation. Space is limited, however, so please register at the number or click on the link below.
For those who cannot attend, stay tuned for tips and strategies to come in future blogs, or attend virtually by registering here.
Regardless of who you are or what your situation may be, I encourage you to implement strategies to mitigate decision fatigue.
Protecting your mental bandwidth is no longer simply a nicety, but a necessity.
If you have question or would like personalized guidance for your unique lifestyle, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary coaching session (no obligation to continue coaching sessions).