What doctors wish patients knew about decision fatigue

What doctors wish patients knew about decision fatigue
AMA; by Sara Berg; 3/21/25
The daily flood of decisions can be exhausting. Lisa MacLean, MD, a psychiatrist at Henry Ford Health, shares how to overcome decision fatigue. From the moment we wake up, we are seemingly bombarded with choices—what to wear, what to eat, which emails to answer first. By the time we’ve navigated our morning routine, our mental energy has already taken a hit. And as the day wears on, the sheer weight of decision-making can start to take its toll, often without us even realizing it. Making decisions day in and day out can be exhausting and cause people to feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed. [Key points include:]

• Decision fatigue leaves you drained
• Try to delegate decisions
• Make big decisions in the morning
• Seek help if symptoms worsen

Publisher's note: This may be a helpful resource to support patients and caregivers.