Understanding Decision Fatigue and Attention Residue
Hello Dear Friends,
In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to overlook those seemingly minor distractions that creep into our daily routines. However, I want to shed light on two crucial concepts that underscore the importance of taking control of your decisions and attention.
Decision Fatigue: Imagine your brain's decision-making energy as a dwindling battery throughout the day. Every choice, no matter how small, chips away at this precious resource. Studies by researchers like Jonathan Levav and Shai Danziger reveal that even trivial decisions like choosing an outfit or lunch deplete this reserve. As decision quality declines, so does your ability to stay focused and tackle complex tasks. This phenomenon explains why figures like Obama and the late Steve Jobs simplified their daily choices by wearing the same outfits every day.
Attention Residue: Dr. Sophie Leroy introduced this concept in a paper published by the University of Washington. When you switch from one task to another, a part of your attention remains on the previous task, making you less efficient on the new one. This relates to the Zeigarnik effect, which suggests we remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. So, staying committed to a challenging task sharpens your attention and improves task completion.
These concepts, decision fatigue and attention residue, are intertwined. Disorganization and poor planning lead to decision fatigue, making you prone to distractions and procrastination. Straying from your tasks fractures your attention and leaves you with the mental baggage of unfinished tasks, hindering decision-making further.
To help you overcome these challenges, consider the "Eat That Frog" approach popularized by Brian Tracy. Tackle your most demanding tasks at the beginning of the day when your decision-making and attention reserves are at their peak. And as you take breaks during the day, opt for a short, distraction-free 5-minute walk. Research indicates that this practice refreshes your decision-making ability and clears lingering attention residue more effectively than typical distractions.
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