How many times have you been drawn into that roundabout discussion of “What shall we have for dinner”? Or do you get instant rage when your partner asks you “Where would you like to go tonight?” If so, chances are you’re familiar with (and likely suffering from) the phenomenon of decision fatigue.
Decision fatigue is a syndrome coined by social psychologist Dr. Roy F. Baumeister, and is somewhat based on the Freudian hypothesis of ego depletion; whereby ego depletion is mirrored by the depletion of will power. When one’s mental capacity is exhausted, does will power even exist? Is this the reason we think eating a block of Caramilk for dinner after a hectic day saving lives is a good decision (it’s not, but we’ve all done it).
It is well recognised that the more decisions a person has to make, the greater the mental fatigue. When we are suffering from decision fatigue, there are really only two possible outcomes: 1. Risky decision making or 2. Decision avoidance; neither of which are particularly desirable for a veterinary professional. However, it is not just our decision fatigue we need to think about. What about our clients? Are they also suffering from decision fatigue? Is that why we often hear them say “do whatever you can” or “do whatever you need to”? Not because they have unlimited funds, not because they have considered all the options and are happy to proceed, rather because it removes the burden of decision making from them. In other words, decision avoidance.
So what does this mean for us? If we are to continue to provide an excellent service to our patients and clients, and continue to practice good veterinary medicine, it means we need some pretty robust strategies in our metaphorical ‘wellbeing toolbox’ to prevent the onset of decision fatigue. There is no escaping the number of decisions we have to make every day in practice, but the following tips (listed in no apparent order) may go a little way to helping limit risky decision making or even decision avoidance.
1. Embrace the uniform
Be like former President Barack Obama or Mark Zuckerberg and embrace the uniform! It’s a well known fact that these success stories pretty much wear the same thing everyday, meaning they use up less of their decision making on the mundane. If you don’t have a uniform specifically, either create your own “work wear” or decide on tomorrow’s OOTD the night before.
2. Pick out your gym clothes
Similarly, pick out your workout clothes on the weekend. If you are planning to do 4 gym sessions in the coming week, set aside your 4 outfits. Not only does this save you time and decision-making energy, it also means you are more likely to go to the gym!
3. Schedule your workouts
On that note, schedule your gym sessions and physically add them into your calendar as appointments. This means they become part of your day’s structure and there is no decision to be made. No more “shall I go”, “do I have time to go”, or “which class should I do”.
4. Meal plan
Meal planning (this is one of my absolute favourites)! Plan all of your meals AND snacks, write your list and do your shopping on the weekend or your day off. Or better yet, give the shopping list to your partner or even shop online! No more “What shall we do for dinner” chat - revolutionary!
5. Keep your glucose levels up
Keep your glucose levels up, ideally with healthy snacks (that you had pre-planned and pre-prepared). The 3pm slump is real, so ensuring a reliable glucose supply to the brain will help to reduce the effects of decision fatigue that may start to develop later in the day.
6. Schedule the difficult cases early
Try to schedule the more difficult cases or surgeries for early in the day. Understandably this is easier said than done in practice, but ideally we want to be making our most important decisions in the morning. This will require a whole practice approach, so it is definitely worth organising a team meeting to discuss the feasibility.
7. Give yourself 30 minutes
Schedule time before consulting starts to review any bloodwork, imaging reports, in-patient treatment plans and make a start on your client or referring vet phone calls. This means you can make good decisions regarding case management while you’re fresh, and before the chaos of the day ensues.
8. Share the load
Share the load. Discuss those more challenging cases with your colleagues and devise treatment or management plans together. Utilise veterinary nurse clinics. Consider the positive role of practice protocols. Are there are some instances when these can help reduce personnel decision making?
9. No late night communications
Wherever possible, avoid impulse decisions. Don’t send emails or text message responses, or make difficult phone calls late at night.
10. Believe
Believe you have more willpower. A study by psychologist Carol Dweck found that simply believing you have more willpower can improve your ability to make good decisions, even when fatigued.
With the majority of people making more than 35,000 decisions per day, decision fatigue is not unique to the veterinary profession. It is however, important to be aware of it, to acknowledge it, and to take intentional steps towards limiting it - for the good of our patients, our clients, our colleagues and ourselves.
