How to Address Decision Fatigue as a Chief Everything Officer

Anyone who runs their own coaching business knows how complex and demanding being a solopreneur can be. We have to be making all the decisions about everything all the time.

We need to decide what to charge, how to charge, when to charge. We need to do invoicing, reconciliations and tax returns.

We need to network and market and be active on social media. We need to follow up leads, sign contracts, bring on new clients, service existing clients, create new offerings.

We need to write newsletters and blogs, website copy and books.

We need to assess when we can take leave and for how long. (Have I taken too much leave? Am I sick enough to stay home in bed?)

We need to ensure our own continuing professional development and training and supervision.

We are the Chief Everything Officers of our businesses. And it can be exhausting…

Although there is growing awareness amongst coaches of the threat of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue, I don’t think we talk or think enough about a major contributor to these conditions: Decision Fatigue.

Decision Fatigue is Roy Baumeister’s term that captures the exhaustion we feel when we are faced with having to make too many decisions too much of the time – and the way the quality of our decisions can become compromised because of this.

As Chief Everything Officers, the Decision Fatigue struggle is real.

We spend the major part of our days doing the heavy-lifting when it comes to thinking, choosing, deciding – be it on our own account or in helping our clients make their choices. And after a while we get weary.

When I can barely decide what clothes to put on in the morning, or what route to take to a client meeting, or what to have for dinner – I know I am in the grips of Decision Fatigue and it is time to give myself a break. Because I know that if I want to ensure that the decisions I take and the choices I make are well thought-through and effective, I need to take regular breaks from decision-making. And I am willing to bet that the same is true for you.

We need to choose to surrender every now and then and let someone else take over or help with the thinking and decision-making.

Here are some ideas to address Decision Fatigue:

• Find a mentor or join a master mind group. Talking things through with others helps to gain clarity and feel part of a community.
• Plan and make as many up-front decisions as possible – set up systems and processes (at work and at home) to reduce your stress and streamline your operations.
• Plan your menus a week in advance.
• Let someone else take charge, do the thinking, drive the process.
• Put off making decisions when you are tired or stressed.
• Hand over the reins sometimes: let someone else decide what to have for dinner; take a taxi or public transport to a meeting; be a tourist in your own town – get on a sightseeing bus that takes you around and allows you to be a passenger.
• Set specific times to take a break from decision-making.
• Keep proper office hours.

My new book Recover from Burnout has many more tools and tips for self-care and healing.

Tags: burnout | burnout recovery | decision fatigue | energy | exhaustion | recover from burnout | resilience

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