From what to wear to which croissant to eat for breakfast and whether to go in one direction on a work project or another, every single day we deal with hundreds of tiny decisions that mount up and contribute to our overall stress levels.
But what if there was a way to reset your mind, reduce the number of micro decisions we make each day and start habits that will help you to feel more relaxed?
Enter the Decision Detox. The new initiative – pioneered by meal delivery service Hello Fresh and accredited behavioural psychologist Jaimie Bloch – aims to reduce ‘decision fatigue’ among busy office workers and create a detox, from which point you can build new habits to be happier and healthier.
The Decision Detox aims to reduce ‘decision fatigue’ among busy office workers and create a detox, from which point you can build new habits to be happier and healthier (stock image)
Accredited behavioural psychologist Jaimie Bloch (pictured) shared her tips for limiting decisions in your wardrobe, work life and food choices
So how does the Decision Detox work?
‘I developed the Decision Detox program to help people to reset their minds,’ psychologist, Jaimie, told FEMAIL.
‘We often get stuck in repetitive behaviours, whether they are helpful or unhelpful.
‘Detoxes give us the ability to pause, notice what we are are doing that may not be working, then make a conscious choice to reset those old habits so that we can have space to create new ones that will serve us and help us continue to grow.’
Jaimie explained that the program is broken down into a one day cleanse and a three day mind reset.
Both are centred around your wardrobe choices, work decisions and meal options – and Jaimie offers countless tips for those wanting to reduce the number of annoying decisions in their life.
In order to get on top of decisions, Jaimie recommends using your mornings wisely, as we have more brainpower first thing (stock image)
Jaimie Bloch’s top five tips to reduce ‘decision fatigue’
1. Use your mornings wisely: Research has shown we have more brainpower in the morning. Schedule your big decisions, tasks or important meetings for earlier in the day.
In her top five tips, Jaimie (pictured) said you need to use the power of a routine
2. Utilise the power of routine, habits and checklists: Create routines that will help conserve mental energy while automating and simplifying menial tasks in your day. Creating checklists for everyday tasks will free up your mind for other more important things, as well as reduce your daily stress.
3. Limit options: Too much choice can cause our brain to short circuit and take unhelpful mental shortcuts, such as impulse decisions or brain fog when we become unable to make any decisions at all.
4. Glucose is your friend: Jaimie recommends having a high glucose snack before making any decision. Research has shown that glucose can help to increase mental power and support decision-making capabilities.
5. Reduce your everyday stress and take breaks: A little bit of stress can be beneficial to support motivation and improve mental performance in the short term. Long-term stress can be detrimental to our health and well-being. It is important to recognise when you are too exhausted to achieve or complete anything. Build breaks into your day so that they are scheduled in, rather than another decision to make. Breaks are a great way to de-stress, as well as support the brain to maintain its focus, maximise learning and consolidate information.
Among the tips that you are guided through in each category is the first and foremost, getting rid of too much choice:
‘The first thing you can do to reduce choices in everyday life is scrap the endless options,’ Jaimie said.
‘Give yourself no more than two choices for each meal, don’t spend the morning getting bogged down by choice and pick your outfit the night before and once dressed, don’t think about your outfit.
‘Shift your attentions to tasks that really require your mental energy.’
Hello Fresh and Jaimie recommend you also simplify your work decisions.
‘When looking at paring back work decisions, it’s important to sit down and review your general day-to-day activities. Spend time assessing what your typical day looks like. Make time for this a few days before your cleanse,’ she explained.
‘Give yourself no more than two choices for each meal,’ the expert recommended – also suggesting an ideal morning and evening routine (stock image)
If you wish to continue for the full three day cleanse, day two of the program is all about learning how to cope with unexpected moments that can throw you off balance in day-to-day life.
Day three is then about building a new routine to prevent decision fatigue – and this is all about having a strict bedtime and writing checklists.
Jaimie even highlights an ideal morning and evening routine, to help you live a less stressful life.
She said that once you master your routine, reward yourself.
‘It is important to feel like you are working towards something,’ she said.
‘A reward doesn’t have to be a present to yourself. The best type of reward is scheduled at the end of the routine, so you feel like you are working towards it.
‘An example could be a delicious coffee or juice in the morning routine or it could be your favourite TV show or tea and dessert in the evening routine.’
To find out more about the Hello Fresh Decision Detox, please click here.