Have you ever noticed that you're more likely to order takeout or scroll endlessly through streaming services at the end of a long day? That's decision fatigue. The sheer number of choices we make, from what to wear to how to reply to an email, depletes our mental energy.

When your willpower and cognitive resources are low, you're more likely to make impulsive, short-sighted, or simply default choices. The quality of your decisions deteriorates.

How to Combat Decision Fatigue:

• Make fewer decisions. Automate what you can. Create routines. Steve Jobs famously wore the same outfit every day to eliminate one choice from his morning.
• Make your most important decisions in the morning. Tackle your big choices when your mind is fresh, not at 9 PM when you're exhausted.
• Simplify your options. Instead of asking "What could I do?", ask "What are my two best options?". Limiting your choices makes the decision easier.

Protecting your decision-making energy is one of the safest things you can do for your overall well-being and success.