Decision Fatigue: Why You're Tired Before the Day Even Begins (and What to Do About It)

Have you ever found yourself staring at your wardrobe, overwhelmed by the simple act of choosing what to wear? Or circling your kitchen, unable to decide what to make for dinner… even though you’re hungry and tired?

You’re not alone.

This is decision fatigue – a quiet, persistent drain on your mental, emotional, and physical energy. And for many women, especially those running a business, managing a household, or holding space for others in their work, it’s one of the most overlooked contributors to burnout and nervous system dysregulation.

What is Decision Fatigue?

Decision fatigue refers to the mental wear and tear that comes from making too many decisions throughout the day. From small choices like what tea to drink, to bigger ones like setting boundaries with clients or choosing your next business move — every decision requires energy.

Over time, even small choices start to feel heavy. You lose clarity. You start avoiding things, procrastinating, or making choices that don’t align with your deeper self.

How It Affects Your Nervous SystemYour nervous system is like your internal command centre. When it’s calm and regulated, you can move through your day with clarity, focus, and creativity. But when it’s overloaded by constant decision-making, it begins to operate in a low-grade state of stress.

This shows up in subtle ways:

• Feeling scattered or unfocused
• Irritability over small things
• Difficulty sleeping or relaxing
• A sense of "shutdown" when too many options are in front of you

When this becomes your daily baseline, your capacity to lead — in life and in business — gets clouded.

The Link Between Nervous System Healing and Empowered Choices.

One of the most powerful things I’ve learned in my own journey (and now share with my clients) is this: You make better decisions when your nervous system feels safe. Not perfect. Not pressure-free. Just safe. Safety in your body allows for clarity in your mind.

And from that place, your decisions come from intuition, not overwhelm. From confidence, not comparison.

So, What Can You Do?

If you’re feeling the drain of decision fatigue, here are some gentle shifts that can help:

1.  Create rituals instead of decisions. Start your day with the same nourishing routine — your favourite tea, breathwork, stretching, or stepping outside. Rituals remove the need to decide and restore your nervous system’s sense of rhythm.

2. Limit your options where you can. Simplify your wardrobe. Meal prep simple go-to meals. Batch your workdays. Every small structure you create frees up mental space.

3. Practice nervous system nourishment daily. Breathwork, Reiki, slow movement, time in nature, laughter — these are not luxuries. They are lifelines. Prioritising your regulation is the most supportive thing you can do for your energy and your work.

4. Give yourself permission to pause. You don’t need to answer that message right now. You don’t need to have the answer today. When you slow down, your clarity often speeds up.

In Closing...

If you're a woman holding a business, a vision, a family, or a dream… know this:
It’s okay to feel tired.
It’s okay to not have it all figured out.
You are allowed to create a life and business that feels good in your body — not just one that looks good on paper.
Start with healing your nervous system.
From there, the decisions get easier… and your path becomes clearer.

​With love,

Karen x


Ready to feel calm, clear, and connected again?
If this post resonated, I’d love to support you. My sessions and programs are designed to help women heal from the inside out — starting with the nervous system. You can explore how we can work together here or book a quick chat - [email protected]