Want better results from the gym, work or business? Limit the amount of decisions you have to make each day.
From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed we are flooded with decisions to make. Some decisions seem tedious while others bare great importance. Either way, we are under constant pressure to make decisions.
Things such as:
What should I wear today?
What will I have for breakfast?
What music will I listen to in the car?
What will I cook for dinner?
These are all decisions that could be placed on us from the first minutes of waking up. It is not something we ever think about or consider, but the amount of decisions placed on us each day can have a big impact on our results.
Decision Fatigue – A Psychological Phenomenon
We only have the power to make a couple of really good decisions per day. Our decision making ability is similar to a muscle:
The more we use it, the more it gets tired and the worse it performs.
If it isn’t overworked and allowed to rest, it will improve and achieve peak performance.
Decision Fatigue is a recognised, psychological event. It refers to the deteriorating ability to make good decisions following a long bout of decision making. To read more about Decision Fatigue, click here.
In essence, the more decisions we are forced to make, the worse our ability to make good decisions.
Many of our goals and responsibilities require us to make good, daily decisions. Our finances, health, family, social life and occupation can all be positively or negatively effected by these daily decisions.
So how do we make sure we make the best decisions possible?
It’s Easy. Make less of them.
If you could only make 1 decision per day, would you waste it on “what should I eat for dinner?”.
I’d hope not.
By planning your days, weeks, months and years in advance can remove the need to make many of these frivolous decisions. Doing this can allow you to focus solely on the important day to day happenings that require your utmost attention.
To see results with your body and performance I believe this is especially true.
For beginner clients who are looking for results, I want to take away as many decisions from them as possible. If the reason someone is going to the gym is to lose weight then they’ve already shown 2 things:
1. They lack the knowledge of healthy eating and exercise (I would say this is a small minority of people)
2. They make poor decisions (this is where the problem is)
Most people don’t lack the basic understanding of ‘what to do’. I’m sure 95% of people would agree that eating McDonalds every day and never exercising is not good for them. Yet, many people continue to do it. These are bad decisions, not bad education.
While this approach is not for everyone and some people need a little more freedom, most people thrive when all their nutrition, training and lifestyle is taken care for them. I have seen the best results with this approach.
What am I eating for breakfast/lunch/dinner? Low Carb? Clean Eating? Should I have Carbs at dinner?
When am I eating these meals?
What time am I going to the gym?
What am I training at the gym? Legs? Chest? Cardio?
How many hours of sleep do I need?
How much water am I drinking today?
These are all things I aim to take care of for clients who are new to training and nutrition. At first a well structured plan can be daunting, but it can be far less daunting then standing in the supermarket not knowing what to eat. After a long day of work and kids, In a tired, stressed state, not many people make great decisions. Especially with food.
Having your nutrition, training and lifestyle habits mapped out for the next 12 weeks makes the process much easier if you’re starting out. You don’t have to worry about ‘what to do’, you jut have to ‘do’. A great saying that I love is “failing to prepare is preparing to fail” and that’s exactly the downfall of many people. Find yourself a skilled trainer you can trust who can point you in the right direction. This will alleviate a great deal of these decisions and you can dedicate that energy into your training and meal prep.
Luke Carroll
Head Personal Trainer
Our philosophy, is Real Results
Personal Training Transformation Packages – Satellite Personal Training – Nutrition Services
