{
  "id": 839530,
  "title": "How to avoid decision fatigue",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/how-to-avoid-decision-fatigue",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-14T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91587744/how-to-avoid-decision-fatigue-2"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In my experience teaching creativity, a student once inquired if altering their daily commute could boost their creativity. While a new route might spark serendipitous ideas, the extra time spent contemplating the commute could be better allocated to more productive tasks. In essence, our daily energy is limited, and it's crucial to focus on high-value decisions rather than trivial ones. You may have heard of decision fatigue, a condition where making numerous small choices leaves you mentally drained. The issue isn't just about choosing among options; it's about using your energy on unproductive activities. To maintain your energy, here are three strategies. First, embrace habits. Automate your daily routines to the extent possible, as consistent actions require less mental effort, freeing up your brain for more creative pursuits. Second, be strategic about effort and accuracy. When faced with choices, avoid seeking perfection—opt for a satisfactory solution instead. This approach is particularly useful for routine decisions, like selecting lunch, where the consequences of a poor choice are minimal. However, reserve your utmost effort for high-stakes tasks. Finally, trust in delegation. If you're constantly making decisions for others, you may be overstepping your expertise. Empower your team by teaching them your decision-making approach and providing them with the tools to make sound choices. By doing so, you'll conserve mental energy for critical tasks and cultivate a new generation of capable leaders.",
  "summary": "Over the years, I have taught a lot of classes on creativity, and I once had a student ask me whether it would benefit their creativity if they took a different route to work each day. While changing up your environment can create serendipitous engagements with things that might spur a new idea, changing up your daily commute would mostly make you spend time and effort thinking about how you get…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}