Every day we are faced with approximately 35000 decisions. That number may seem astronomical, but our entire waking existence is reliant upon decision making.
What time will you wake up?
What time do you need to be at work?
Which route will you drive?
How do I get my boys to wear pants when it’s 30 degrees out?
I could go on for quite some time with this list.
And I haven’t even mentioned food! Researchers at Cornell University estimate we make an average of 226.7 decisions PER DAY about what we’re going to eat!
No wonder everyone is tired all the damn time.
By Marc Zalmanoff
As business professionals needing to be “on” at all times, every mundane daily decision takes away from the more important choices we are faced with each day, and can often take away much needed mental energy that can be focused elsewhere.
If you’re talking to a prospective client, but subconsciously worried about what you’re having for lunch, chances are you’re not operating at your peak.
If you wake up each day and scramble around your closet trying to figure out what to wear, you’re wasting time and energy on something that should be automatic.
So how do you get around this?
SYSTEMS!!
I often find people are resistant to systemizing things, and they give some bullshit excuse like it “stymies their creativity.” If you think this way, that’s an old story you’re telling yourself as a reason for being unorganized.
When you have a plan, when you operate your life with systems, it provides FREEDOM to stay focused on your top priorities.
Let me give you an example of how this works in real life.
As a health and fitness professional, I work in a gym for 6-8 hours a day. I have multiples of the same exact company t-shirt. I have multiple pairs of black sweat pants and shorts. I have a company branded hoodie. I have enough of all those things to last me an entire week.
I literally wear the same thing almost every single day. I never have to think about it. I never have to comb through my closet. I never have to worry if I have clean clothes. It may seem insignificant, but it saves a lot of time most people waste.
The 226.7 food decisions we make each day. Fuck that. I eat the same exact breakfast 5 days a week. Matter of fact, most days I eat the same lunch as well. You know the frustration when you and your spouse are trying to figure out where to have dinner? Don’t put that on yourself for no reason. And don’t give me that “I don’t like eating the same thing every day” line. Again, it’s a story you’re telling yourself and you only believe it because you replay it over and over again.
Start analyzing your life and figuring out where you can systemize your processes. From what you wear to what you eat. Your morning and nighttime routines. Blocking time in your schedule for specific activities (i.e. follow up calls, email, etc) each day. Any place you can divert your precious time and energy into more fruitful activities, make it happen!
Your life will feel easier, and your focus will be on the things that truly matter.
Aaannnddd GO!!
