Repair 15: How to Reduce Decision Fatigue in Downtown Work
Fewer choices, better outcomes
The Problem
You make decisions all day.
Big ones.
Small ones.
Urgent ones.
Unexpected ones.
By the end of the day, even simple choices feel exhausting. You second-guess yourself. You delay. You avoid deciding at all.
This is not a motivation problem.
It is decision fatigue.
Why This Keeps Happening
Decision fatigue shows up when:
You are the default decision-maker
Every issue feels like an exception
There are no clear rules to fall back on
You are deciding things that should already be decided
Too many choices require your attention
Downtown work creates constant judgment calls. Without structure, it drains energy fast.
The Fix
The goal is not better decisions.
The goal is fewer decisions.
Here is how to fix it.
Step 1: Identify Decisions You Are Making Over and Over
Pay attention for one week.
Notice decisions like:
Do we say yes to this request?
Does this event fit our goals?
Is this worth my time right now?
Repeated decisions are a signal that something needs a rule.
Step 2: Turn Repeated Decisions Into Simple Rules
For each repeated decision, create a default.
Examples:
“If it does not support businesses, we do not do it.”
“If it requires more than X hours, it waits.”
“If it does not align with this year’s priorities, it is a no.”
Rules protect your energy.
Step 3: Decide in Advance When You Will Decide
Not every decision needs to be made immediately.
Create:
One time per week for non-urgent decisions
One place where decisions are captured
One way to say, “I’ll decide later”
Urgency is often assumed, not real.
Step 4: Stop Deciding Things That Are Not Yours
Some decisions belong to:
Boards
Committees
Partners
Business owners
If you are deciding things you do not control, fatigue is guaranteed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Treating every issue as unique
Believing responsiveness equals effectiveness
Making decisions in isolation
Carrying responsibility that is not yours
Good structure protects good judgment.
What to Do This Week
Try this short reset:
⬜ Write down five decisions you made this week
⬜ Circle the ones you keep repeating
⬜ Create one simple rule for each
⬜ Set one decision-making block on your calendar
⬜ Let one decision wait on purpose
Energy returns when decisions slow down.
How We Help
This type of challenge is often addressed through the Organizational Capacity Building with Reader Area Development, Inc., helping practitioners reduce decision load by creating clearer priorities, boundaries, and default pathways for action.
Keep Going
This post is part of The Downtown Repair Manual, a field guide to fixing common downtown problems one issue at a time.
You do not need more willpower.
You need fewer decisions.