{"url":"https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue","title":"Cognitive Scientist's 3 Tips Beat Decision Fatigue","domain":"fastcompany.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/36713392/pexels-photo-36713392.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"exhausted office worker","category":"Other","language":"en","slug":"af97eb11","id":"af97eb11-0ca6-49fc-8afe-94772b4d7aa5","description":"Decision fatigue depletes your limited self-control resource after too many choices.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Decision fatigue depletes your limited self-control resource after too many choices.\n- Match effort to decision stakes to conserve mental energy for big calls.\n- Simple strategies keep you sharp for smarter choices all day long.[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue)\n\n## The story at a glance\nYou notice peak performance some moments, but your mind lags later. **Art Markman**, cognitive scientist, reveals how decision fatigue builds from daily choices. It's reported now to equip leaders with timely tools amid relentless work demands. Ego depletion research underscores self-control as a finite resource needing recharge.[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue)\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- Notice varying cognitive effectiveness tied to **circadian cycles** and building fatigue.\n- **Ego depletion** studies show mental work hardens later in the day.\n- Decisions demand identifying options, weighing trade-offs, picking one.\n- Even small choices drain resources, leading to arbitrary picks.\n- Tackle fatigue by matching effort wisely to decision importance.[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue)\n\n## Signature highlights\nDecision fatigue hits when your ability to control thinking and actions runs low - a limited resource per ego depletion work. Decisions complicate life: spot options, balance pros and cons, commit. Minor ones still sap energy, sparking sloppy choices just when work or personal stakes rise high.[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue)\n\n**Master the effort-accuracy tradeoff**: Many overinvest effort across tasks, chasing perfection unnecessarily. The key? Scale thinking to needed quality. For a **new car**, dive deep - read reviews, test drive, check reliability stats, ponder usage - since costs sting and mistakes hurt. Grab a **candy bar**? Glance and go; even off picks deliver sweet joy without regret. Over-efforting trivials starves reserves for true priorities; test lighter approaches, embrace if results satisfy.[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue)\n\nTwo more strategies promise relief, though details unfold in full read - expect routines to automate and timing to optimize.\n\n## Key quotes\n\"Decision fatigue drains your mental energy. Here are three simple strategies to stay sharp and make smarter choices all day.\" - **Art Markman**[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue)\n\n## Why it matters\nDecision fatigue undermines leaders across industries, fueling poor calls in high-pressure environments. Readers gain tools to preserve peak cognition, prioritizing vital choices effectively. Watch routines automating dailies and early-day big decisions for sustained edge.[[1]](https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue)","hashtags":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.fastcompany.com/91519196/3-tips-from-a-cognitive-scientist-on-how-to-beat-decision-fatigue","title":"Original article"}],"viewCount":3,"publishedAt":"2026-04-04T15:39:05.892Z"}