By Tracy Freese, M.A. Communication, Health & Wellness
Do you find yourself feeling tired, overwhelmed, stressed or anxious on a daily basis? While there are many factors that could be leading to these issues, eliminating decision fatigue with daily routine can alleviate these undesirable feelings.
Daily routine can help increase feel-good chemicals in your brain, particularly dopamine. Here’s what you need to know about decision fatigue, creating a routine, and dopamine!
What is decision fatigue?
The average person makes over 35,000 decisions per day! Each of those decisions takes time and energy. By the time you are halfway through the day, you might be drained and unable to focus at work or school.
When your brain is overwhelmed by decisions, it starts looking for shortcuts. You’ll start putting off decisions until later, avoiding important tasks, or making poor decisions. You’re much more likely to be irritable or depressed.
For example, if you have decision fatigue when it comes to dinnertime, you might end up getting fast food or simply not eating at all. When this happens over and over, it can have a huge effect on your mental and physical health.
It’s not your fault – it’s simply the result of living a busy modern life with countless tasks fighting for your attention.
How to increase dopamine with daily routine
Although it’s difficult to avoid decision fatigue and stress altogether, one thing that can help is learning how to increase dopamine levels. Dopamine is the chemical in your brain that provides a feeling of reward or pleasure.
Science shows that one of the keys to increasing dopamine and reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed is by putting tasks on autopilot. In other words, you need to develop a routine.
A daily routine helps decrease decision fatigue because you don’t have to make as many difficult decisions throughout the day. At the same time, a good routine can make it easier to get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, relax, and more. All these things will boost your dopamine and help you live a happier, healthier life.
What habits can help me recharge?
Getting Good Sleep—Going to bed and waking up around the same time every day is one of the keys to getting enough sleep. While it may be easier said than done, it’s incredibly beneficial to have a solid sleep routine.
An Afternoon Snack—We all know that we need to eat throughout the day to fuel our bodies. Recent research even shows that eating a little sugar can help your brain recharge from decision fatigue. An ALOHA protein bar or some fresh fruit could be the perfect solution when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Exercise Regularly—Whether you’re hitting the gym, riding your bike, walking the dog, doing yoga at home or anything else, moving your body is great for recharging your mind. Experts recommend exercising 5 days per week.
Listen to Music—Listening to music is great for raising dopamine levels and reducing stress. Incorporate music into your everyday routine, whether it’s in the car, while you’re cooking dinner, or while you’re taking a shower.
Get Some Sun—Research shows that getting 15 minutes of sunshine in the morning is great for the mind and body. It can reduce fatigue and help you sleep better. (If you’re getting sun exposure throughout the day, don’t forget sunscreen!)
Building healthy habits into your daily routine
There are so many ways you can build healthy habits into your routine to help alleviate decision fatigue and get on the happier path to healthy.
Today, you can take some stress away from your future self by signing up for a subscription to regularly receive healthy snacks! With ALOHA Subscribe and Save, you can set it and forget it to get brain fuel delivered right to your door.
Author Bio:
Tracy Freese has almost a decade of experience as a health and wellness writer. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with an M.A in Communication. Some of her previous work includes writing for NessFeli Natural Skincare, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. She has a passion for helping small health and wellness business owners find their voices online.
