TCFBO #066: Decisions, Decisions

Read Time: 4 minutes

As business owners, every day we're tasked with making countless decisions.

It could be something as simple as choosing where to buy office supplies.

Or something as strategic as launching a new service or opening new premises.

And then, in addition to the decisions we make in the business, there are numerous personal decisions to be made as well.

What to wear.

What to eat.

What to prioritise.

This constant decision-making can lead to a psychological phenomenon known as “decision fatigue” which can impair our ability to make decisions.

And this in turn leads to…

…decreased productivity

…poor quality decisions

…increased stress.

None of which are particularly helpful in running a business!

However, by strategically reducing the number of decisions we need to make daily, we are able to conserve our energy (and time) for more critical and strategic tasks.

And with greater energy, our overall effectiveness increases whilst our levels of stress are reduced.

So here are eight simple strategies to help avoid decision fatigue.

1. Plan your week ahead of time

Batch planning in advance means many decisions around your schedule are grouped into one focused activity rather than dissipated and occurring at random times.

This leaves your mind free to focus on your most important tasks each day.

You can discover more about why dissipated focus stops your business progressing and what to do about it here.

2.  Set daily themes

Designate themes for each day of the week to focus your decision-making on specific areas each day.

For example, you might decide that Tuesday’s theme is marketing, and Thursday’s theme is finances.

You don’t have to stick rigidly to the same theme on the same day every week.

Just choosing an overarching theme in advance makes it easier to decide whether or not to tackle things that come up during that day.

And if having a theme for a whole day seems like too long a time period, then choose different themes for the morning / afternoon and see how that works.

3. Plan your day the night before

Even with the best will in the world, plans change and we need to adjust.

By spending a few minutes each evening planning your tasks for the next day, you’ll minimise the number of decisions you have to make the next morning.

And this means you can hit the ground running in a proactive state rather than a reactive one.

There are more ways to hack your to do list here.

4. Plan your meals a week in advance

Planning your meals for the week ahead avoids having to make meal decisions every day.

If you want to, you can batch cook for the week too, but it’s not essential.

What we’ve found is that just by knowing what we’re going to be eating, and when, removes a whole load of extra daily decision making around shopping and meal preparation.

You may find it also has the effect of helping you make healthier choices.

5. Wear a work uniform

You don’t have to go to the extreme of always wearing the same outfit day in, day out as Steve Jobs did, (although Paul seems to have adopted this approach).

You can simply limit your options to a standard set of clothes to reduce the daily decision of what to wear.

6. Automate financial decisions

Have you decided to pay yourself first as per Budgeting Principle #1?

Then set up an automatic payment to your investment pot.

Are there bills you’ve got to pay regularly?

Then set up a bank account just for all your automated bill payments and, once a month, transfer enough to cover them.

This doesn’t mean you don’t still keep an eye on what’s going out of your account.

But if you can reduce the number of routine financial decisions, you can then focus your energy on the more strategic financial decisions.

7. Limit checking your email and messaging apps

Set specific times to check your emails and messaging apps to avoid constant decision-making throughout the day.

Or decide in advance that you’ll only check them once you’ve completed your most important tasks.

By doing this you’re also deciding to work to your agenda, rather than everyone elses.

There are more hacks for taming technology here. 

8.  Create routine checklists

Develop checklists for repetitive tasks.

This will not only standardise processes it will reduce the need for decision-making whilst carrying out these tasks.

If you do something so regularly it’s habitual then you may not need a checklist unless you want to delegate the task to someone else.

However, if there’s something you have to do regularly but infrequently, checklists and processes will free up a huge amount of time and energy you would otherwise spend on decision-making, thinking and re-learning.

So think about where you can use these to simplify your personal life as well as your business.

Then invest the time to create checklists that will pay dividends by freeing you up to get the tasks done much more efficiently in the future.

Remember, every decision you don't have to make frees up your time and energy for something more valuable.

So keep simplifying and watch how your productivity and fulfilment increases.

Let us know how you get on and we’ll see you next week.

Paul & Philly

Whenever you’re ready, there are three ways we can help you:

1. Grab a copy of Paul’s book “Backwards Planning - A Simple Method to Move You and Your Business Forward” and discover how to reverse engineer a life and business you truly love.

2. Book a facilitated “Life Vision Session” today and start creating a life and business that are fully aligned with your heart’s desires. We’ll arrange a pre-session call with you to say “Hi”, explain how the Life Vision Session works and answer any questions you may have.

3. Apply to join “The Clear Focus Business Academy” and ensure your business is the most effective it can be at providing the money and lifestyle you desire. Simply drop us an email or contact us here to tell us you’re interested and we’ll send you more info.