Your Brain is Begging You to Decide

A client told me a story last week that might sound familiar.

He sat down at his desk early, high hopes for the day. He was ready to tackle the big priorities, clear out the noise, and finally make progress on the work that really mattered.

But then it happened.

He just stared at his screen. The inbox was full. The to-do list was long. The calendar was packed. But somehow, he couldn’t get focused on where to start.

He spent most of the morning circling around small tasks — answering a few emails here, checking his phone there, rearranging his plan. By lunch, the big work hadn’t budged an inch.

And the rest of the day? Clouded by the guilt of wasting those precious morning hours.

He didn’t feel unmotivated. He didn’t lack ideas. He was just too worn down by indecision to get traction.

Sound familiar?

It’s Not a Decision Problem

Most of us think decision fatigue is about too many choices. So we chase hacks:

• We block time
• We color-code calendars
• We automate the easy stuff

Those help, and I use them religiously, but they don’t fix what’s underneath.

Decision fatigue isn’t really about the task in front of us. It’s about the ones we keep avoiding. The ones that linger in our minds like open browser tabs, draining mental energy all day.

It’s the overdue conversation with a team member. It’s the vague priority list we never quite clarify. It’s the half-made plan we keep adjusting instead of committing to.

Unmade decisions steal our focus. They live rent-free in our heads, demanding attention we don’t even realize we’re giving.

Why We Put Them Off

There’s usually a good reason we let important things hang open. We tell ourselves we need more time to tackle big projects. We distract ourselves from the harder work with busy tasks that feel productive but keep us scattered instead of clear.

But the deeper truth is this: most of us don’t have a steady habit of getting clear on everything that needs our attention — and then deciding, in advance, what deserves our best energy.

Brian Tracy argues that 97% of people don’t have clear, written goals — and the discipline of writing them down is important because it gets them out of our heads so we can organize them.

This clarity doesn’t happen once. It takes intentional, consistent practice:

• We start by setting clear priorities for the year (and beyond).
• We carve out time every week — before the week begins — to plan ahead. (Some call this “Sunday Hour One.”)
• We choose our top daily priorities before the day pulls us off course.
• Then we review daily, weekly, yearly: Did my actions match what my highest thinking said mattered most?

Without this rhythm, our autopilot — our limbic brain — takes over. We drift. We stay busy but not focused. We burn energy on tasks that look urgent but don’t move the needle.

The good news? This discipline is a skill we can train. We learn from the gaps, adjust, and get closer each time. That’s how we get real momentum and an ROI on the investment of our time.

“Every minute spent in planning saves 10 minutes in execution.” — Brian Tracy

The Hidden Cost

When we don’t decide our highest priorities, we drain our best energy on mental background noise. We show up distracted by unfinished tasks. We pour precious mental fuel into second-guessing, rethinking, postponing — then wonder why we’re worn out by 3 PM.

Lots of tiny tasks and decisions are exhausting.

We can never get into true flow — that state where we’re fully focused and absorbed in what we’re doing. Where time drops away. Distractions fade. Our skills match the challenge just right: not so easy we’re bored, not so hard we’re overwhelmed.

Flow doesn’t just happen. It’s built by closing loops and giving our minds space to focus.

A Simple Practice for Clarity That Actually Frees You

When we name the real decision and commit to it — imperfectly but firmly — we reclaim energy we didn’t know we’d lost.

Try this:

• At the start of the week, spend 30–60 minutes brainstorming everything you need to get done. Include the decisions you’ve been avoiding.
• Circle the three things that would free up the most mental space if you finished them.
• Schedule them on your calendar. Break them down if needed. Give yourself a firm deadline: by Thursday at noon, it’s done.
• Stick to it. Make the decision. Keep your word to yourself — that’s one of the most valuable professional skills you can build.
• Keep closing the gap between your plan and reality. Evaluate. Learn. Adjust. Repeat.

And then notice how your mind quiets when you do. It’s sweet.

The Leaders We Want to Be

We want to be leaders who bring clarity, not confusion. People trust us when they feel we know where we stand. When they know we have a clear process for ourselves and for them, they trust us more — and trust themselves more too. But we can’t model clarity for others if we’re carrying the weight of unmade decisions ourselves.

When we close loops, we free our minds to focus on what matters most. We create capacity for the creative, meaningful work that moves us forward— the vital 20% that drives 80% of our results.

And we can sit down at our desks tomorrow morning with confidence — knowing exactly where to start.

A Better Way Forward

What’s one decision you could make today that you’ve been postponing?

What energy would that free up for you, your team, your family?

It only takes one clear choice to change how the whole day feels.

What Now?

If you know you’re carrying too many unclear priorities, maybe it’s time for support. This is exactly what we work through together in coaching: clarifying, simplifying, deciding.

Want help lightening that mental load? Reply to this email or send me a DM — let’s talk about what clear priorities could unlock for you.