decision fatigue

[ dih-sizh-uhn fuh-teeg ]

noun

, Psychology, Psychiatry.

1. mental and emotional exhaustion resulting from excessive or relentless decision-making, especially the cumulative effect of small decisions that one makes throughout each day:

   Which socks to wear or what size coffee to order may seem trivial, but add them to the other 30,000 choices you’ll make today, and you’ve got the recipe for decision fatigue.

Word History and Origins

Origin of decision fatigue¹

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

But Schwartz says that the group may indirectly be compounding the issue of “decision fatigue” by giving weight to minor matters, and stoking anxiety about the “wrong” choice.

From Slate

Older people tend to suffer less from decision fatigue, Schwartz adds, having learned over time to settle for good enough.

From Slate

Not all of these decisions are significant or consequential, or even made consciously—but an emerging body of science supports the suggestion, widely known as “decision fatigue,” that the more we make, the harder we find it to control our behavior or even know our own minds.

From Slate

Having a list like this on hand can help alleviate decision fatigue in the aftermath of a disaster.

From Salon

It won’t be surprising if they adopt a similar channel model to cash in on users’ decision fatigue and nostalgia for major IP: one channel for Disney princesses, one channel for The Sopranos, etc.

From Slate