There is a really, really, really good article on the NYTimes website about decision fatigue. It’s long, but is worth the read.
We just run out of brain energy when faced with too many decisions. Been there, done that. And it is one of the reasons I avoid shopping and intensely dislike malls and large, cluttered stores. Every piece of stimulus coming our way requires a decision of some sort–stop? pay attention? reject it? consider it? ignore it? Deeply fatiguing.
It’s also one of the reasons that school uniforms and simple morning routines are a good idea for children–radially reduces stress early in the morning and frees up mental energy for learning new things.
I know I find myself wanting to greatly simplify my own life. I want fewer clothes, not more, fewer things around me, not more, fewer financial decisions, not more, fewer TV channels, not more (I’ve given up watching it–just too many choices) . . . the thought of getting rid of more stuff and choices lightens my soul.
I suspect decision fatigue may be a reason why many are drawn to authoritative-led, no questions asked, fundamental theology based religious environments. Let the experts make those decisions and there is no reason to have to think hard about such questions.
I also know that, for me, the need to make fewer choices but to enjoy more deeply the ones I do make is a reason I so enjoy highly liturgical worship services. I love the rhythm of call to worship, music, prayer, the consecration of the bread and wine. In those rhythms and familiar patterns, I am able to let my soul rest in God.
I also believe strongly that there are certain things we just don’t need to decide for ourselves. These are the givens in life, the givens for all who wish to live freely and faithfully.
They seem pretty simple to me:
Love of God and neighbor drives every decision. If I am not loving God and neighbor in them, then that decision is wrong.
How to live this way? Here are what I see as the basics.
Daily private prayer and weekly communal worship.
Regular acts of service to others.
Give 10% away–no reason to even think about it, a huge stress reducer.
Stay adequately self-aware so that I know how I want to be treated, and then treat every other person that way. For me, that means treat others with graceful forgiveness, gentle honesty, mindful integrity, movement toward holiness, and vulnerability suitable to the occasion.
Respect the rhythms and wisdom of the physical world, so eat healthily, sleep regularly, appreciate seasonal changes.
Permeate every thought, word and deed with gratefulness to God for life, for death, and for resurrection.
These decisions have been made. No reason to revisit them, but just live from them. Takes a huge load off.
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