Making your mind up

I read an astonishing statistic recently – apparently the average person makes more than 35,000 decisions per day.

THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND.

A DAY.

Seriously? I can't think that's right. I can’t even work out how we would have time in the day to make that many decisions, never mind what on earth they could all be.

But according to the helpful techie updates I get at work that is the figure our brains are grappling with.

And, as anyone with MS knows, it’s not even a fully functioning brain that is trying to deal with these thousands of decisions to begin with.

It’s no wonder that we, more than most, can suffer from decision fatigue – a term coined by social psychologist Roy F. Baumeister.

Just like muscles tiring after a long workout, our brains are also a muscle that become exhausted.

And when our brain is tired, it conserves energy by making impulse decisions—or by making no decisions at all.

This explains a lot about my inability to decide, well, anything, after a day at work.

But there are a few things that can help:

• Stepping away from the chaos – some of our best decisions are made when we are relaxed and away from the demands of daily life. Giving my brain a break - lying in the bath, back-chatting the cats, zoning out on the settee infront of rubbish tv - can help
• Establishing daily routines that minimize decision making – my work clothes are chosen and put out the night before, I plan meals for the week on a Sunday, I make my office lunches the day before. Yes, I admit, if I suddenly don't fancy the outfit/food it's a bit limiting, but I can live with that
• One thing at a time – OK, not hugely successful at this one. I’m a bit scattergun. Too many emails open in one go, different household jobs begun at once, three part-started books by my bed. Surely it would be a lot less fatiguing to just do one thing at one time
• Setting a deadline on decisions – tell your brain when it needs to concentrate on making that decision, freeing it up to think about other decisions at other times
• Switching the phone off – we face an information tidal wave every day forcing stressed and speedy decision making. Having very little time to think is likely to lead to impulsive decisions. I definitely need to try and step away from technology for a bit to re-set the process
• Eating something healthy - hunger is scientifically linked to our desire to make impulsive decisions. (Actually, pre-MS this might explain some of my youthful fashion decisions. Or university flings)

It’s pretty clear with 35,000 of the little blighters waiting to be tackled every day, there’s no way to avoid making decisions.

And it’s not as if adhering to the above tips will work on those days when absolute brain paralysis hits and decision-making anxiety takes over.

But it’s a start and gives me a bit more confidence in my next big decision. Which is: tea – regular or large?*

:: Making your mind up by Bucks Fizz 

*Actually, I can do this one. Large tea. Always the large tea.