There’s a point in the year when the brain fog starts to set in. Not because business is necessarily bad, but because you’ve made so many decisions that even the smallest one starts to feel exhausting. Should we launch that campaign now or next quarter? Should we replace that team member or wait until after the holidays? You get stuck in loops, second-guessing yourself, and even the most confident leaders find themselves mentally drained.
This isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’ve been doing a lot. And more importantly, it’s a signal to take stock before it starts costing you more than time. Decision fatigue is real, and in business, it doesn’t just mean picking the wrong sandwich for lunch. It can lead to hesitation, inefficiency, and missed opportunities. So let’s talk about what it is, why it creeps in around now, and what to do about it.
What decision fatigue actually looks like
It’s not always obvious. Decision fatigue isn’t just about feeling tired. It’s that creeping indecisiveness, the inability to weigh things clearly, or putting off small decisions until they snowball into big ones. You might find yourself going back and forth over a hire, delaying a conversation that needs to happen, or endlessly tweaking something that should have been good to go last week.
It also shows up as defaulting to ‘yes’ or ‘no’ without much thought, simply because thinking feels like too much effort. And in leadership, these moments matter. A foggy “yes” to the wrong project or a hasty “no” to something promising can set you back months.
Why October is the perfect storm
By this time, you’ve likely been running at full tilt for nine months. You’ve made hundreds, maybe thousands, of decisions, big and small. It’s also that time when the pressure to “finish the year strong” starts to build, while at the same time you’re just plain tired.
Add in fewer daylight hours, team members going on holiday, and the looming end-of-year rush, and it’s a recipe for mental overload. That’s why October is often when decision fatigue hits hardest and when you need to take it seriously.
How to reduce your decision load
You don’t need to be across every single detail. One of the best ways to tackle decision fatigue is to reduce the number of decisions you’re responsible for. Delegate more. Automate wherever possible. Create systems or templates so that smaller choices don’t require full mental effort every time.
Even batching decisions helps. Instead of deciding things ad hoc, carve out weekly time to make multiple decisions at once when you’re mentally prepared. This gives your brain breathing room and helps prevent the drip-drip-drip of constant demands.
Clarity beats hustle every time
When you’re mentally worn out, the worst thing you can do is try to “push through.” You’ll just end up making reactive choices. Instead, take a beat. Revisit your bigger picture goals. What are you really trying to achieve in Q4? What matters most right now?
Clarity helps filter the noise. When you’re clear about where you’re heading, decisions become less about guessing and more about aligning. And that kind of confidence builds momentum instead of draining it.
You don’t have to do it alone
Many leaders fall into the trap of thinking they need to carry it all. But a sounding board can make all the difference. Whether it’s a coach, a peer, or a trusted member of your team, sharing the decision-making process lifts the weight and brings new perspective.
Sometimes just talking something through out loud can make the answer clearer. Don’t wait until you’re burnt out to ask for support. Bring people in early and often.
The best decisions start with less noise
If your brain feels cluttered this month, you’re not alone. But decision fatigue doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’ve been making things happen. Now it’s time to pause, streamline, and recalibrate.
Because the best decisions don’t come from constant thinking. They come from clear thinking.
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