Reduce decision fatigue with one quick framework
No more endless decisions - start simplifying and get your time back.
I was sitting at my standing desk (👀) when my phone buzzed:
"Hey beautiful, you have a text message."
(Yes, that’s my text notification)
It was a coworker with a client referral.
Based on our conversation, it seemed like basic content creation work - easy enough to fit in between my other projects. But five minutes into the discovery call, I realized they didn’t just need a little help - they required a total overhaul.
I could’ve done it, sure, but the time? The energy? I didn’t think I had the bandwidth with everything I was already doing. But instead of making a hasty decision, I gave myself space to think.
I took a few days to work on the initial project requirements, just enough to see what would be involved and what kind of commitment the project would take. I realized quickly that I indeed did not have the bandwidth.
Not wanting to leave them without an alternative option, I scanned my network for someone I could refer them to.
Found one. A creator I interact with on 𝕏 that would be perfect.
Like me, she’s juggling a full-time gig while building her creator business, but she’s made it work her way. I’d never seen her mention client work specifically, so I reached out to check if she did it. Her response?
“Nah, that’s not my thing. I do the coaching and consulting, but I don’t wanna get knee-deep in someone else’s operations.”
In that moment, she shifted my entire paradigm. I realized I’d been doing work that wasn’t aligned with what I truly wanted to do all because I was constantly being told it was the fastest way to make money. My real strength has always been in training and consulting, not client work.
From that day forward, I became a student of her approach, signed up for every offer she put out, and stopped wasting time on things that didn’t match my vision for my life and business.
Did you know that according to a Cornell University study, on average, adults make about 35,000 decisions every day?
Even the smallest decisions drain our mental energy.
That’s why high-performers like Steve Jobs stuck to routines, all the way down to wearing the same outfit everyday - one less decision to make. They knew that every ounce of decision fatigue distracted them from the important stuff.
When you eliminate unnecessary choices, you free up your brain for what actually matters.
Here’s how to use my D.E.C.I.D.E. Framework to cut through the clutter and decrease day-to-day decisions:
D – Define What Matters: If it’s not moving you toward your goal, it’s out.
E – Eliminate Options: Stop piling on extras. Focus on one path.
C – Cut the Noise: Ditch the endless tasks that lead nowhere.
I – Identify Your Strengths: Stick to what you do best, and forget the rest.
D – Delegate or Drop: Hand off what you can; let go of what doesn’t fit.
E – Execute Relentlessly: Double down on the essentials, and don’t stop.
Why This Works
When you cut out low-impact decisions, you make it easier to stay focused on the high-impact ones.
If I had already been tuned in with my desire not to do client work, I would have saved tons of tiny decisions when deciding whether to take on this client. It would have been a ‘no, I don’t do client work’ from jump.
The time I spent on that whole thing put me slightly behind on a project that's currently a significant part of my income.
Choosing to preserve your brain power for fewer, high-impact decisions over endless small ones is the clearest path to a life that aligns with your goals.
Here’s what you’ll get out of it:
You stop wasting your mental energy on trivial decisions.
Simplifying choices lets you start each day with purpose instead of distraction.
Each simplified decision makes you stronger with clutch decision making.
“One small, intentional action beats endless decisions every time.”
Your Turn
Identify one daily decision that’s slowing you down.
Replace it with a routine or clear boundary that frees up your mental space.
You might be surprised at how much that extra mental energy leads to quicker progress in areas where you've been moving slower than you’d like.