Strategies to Mirror a Prosperous CEO's Decision-Making Process, Even in States of Mental Fatigue
In the realm of productivity and decision-making, a novel strategy has emerged that promises to enhance our cognitive abilities and reduce mental exhaustion: decision batching. This approach, championed by Dr. Alexis Kennedy, a burnout coach, and Dr. Lisa MacLean, the chief wellness officer at Henry Ford Health, is gaining traction for its potential to improve decision-making without relying on stimulants like caffeine.
According to Dr. Kennedy, CEOs employ decision batching in their own lives, recognising its benefits in managing brain energy. Neuroscience supports this strategy, as the prefrontal cortex, often referred to as the brain's CEO, depletes with each decision made. Making low-stakes decisions without a system in place burns premium mental resources. If too much energy has been used up by the prefrontal cortex, decision-making becomes more difficult.
Dr. Kennedy recommends creating three daily decision buckets: morning, afternoon, and evening, each designed for a different level of brain power. The morning decision bucket is for clear-minded decisions, the afternoon for autopilot decisions, and the evening for decisions requiring zero brain power.
Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist, concurs and suggests making choices easier by creating grocery lists and delegating decisions. She agrees that difficult tasks should be done in the morning, when we make the most accurate and thoughtful decisions.
Timeboxing, a related time management technique, exemplifies decision batching by allocating fixed time blocks for tasks, thereby improving attention and reducing the overload caused by constant switching. This leads to reduced decision fatigue since you make fewer spontaneous or fragmented choices throughout the day.
The benefits of decision batching are significant. A study shows that it can lead to 37% higher productivity and 29% greater work satisfaction compared to fragmented, interruption-prone working styles. By protecting against unnecessary task switching, decision batching helps combat burnout and preserves cognitive vitality.
It's worth noting that those who have experienced damage to their prefrontal cortex often show a marked inability to make choices that meet their needs and goals. This underscores the importance of maintaining the health of this crucial region of the brain for effective decision-making.
In conclusion, decision batching is a caffeine-free method that reduces mental exhaustion and supports wise decisions by strategically limiting the quantity and timing of decision-making moments, allowing the brain’s focus systems to engage more deeply without overload. As we navigate our increasingly complex lives, this strategy offers a promising solution for making better decisions and preserving our cognitive resources.
[1] Neuroscience for the Rest of Us. (2020). Decision Batching: A Simple Strategy to Improve Your Decision Making. Retrieved from https://www.neurosciencefortherestofus.com/decision-batching/ [3] Fast Company. (2019). How to Batch Your Decisions to Boost Productivity. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/90371388/how-to-batch-your-decisions-to-boost-productivity [5] Forbes. (2019). How Decision Batching Can Help Combat Burnout. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/01/28/how-decision-batching-can-help-combat-burnout/?sh=64275d927d6f
- The strategy of decision batching, as supported by neuroscience, aids in preserving cognitive resources by limiting the quantity and timing of decision-making moments, aligning it with the health-and-wellness and lifestyle movements promoting fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and overall wellness.
- Recognizing the potential of decision batching in improving decision-making abilities, Dr. Kennedy and Dr. MacLean suggest implementing a decision-making system that organizes choices into three daily decision buckets, fostering a more efficient and healthy lifestyle by reducing mental-health challenges and increasing productivity.
- As demonstrated through various studies, such as those found in sources like Neuroscience for the Rest of Us, Fast Company, and Forbes, adopting decision batching can lead to significant improvements in productivity and work satisfaction by up to 37% and 29%, respectively, ultimately leading to a more balanced and successful health-and-wellness journey.
