Ever had that moment when you hear someone say, “If my stomach could talk, it would ask me to stop eating sugary, salty, or junk food!” I mean, who hasn’t, right? We’re all aware that junk food is no saint when it comes to our health, but let’s face it – it’s incredibly hard to resist. That little devil on your shoulder keeps leading you to that café with irresistible sugary drinks or the fast-food joint that slings delicious pizzas. That’s the dopamine rush for you, my friend. But we’re not here to chat about the pitfalls of junk food. You already know it’s not doing any favors for your midsection. What you might not realize is that some of your daily habits could be wreaking havoc on the topmost part of your body – your mind!
So, here’s a little wisdom from Tony Robbins:
“Where focus goes, energy flows.”
Your mind is your trusty sidekick when it comes to focusing. Think about it – even making seemingly simple decisions, like choosing what to order off a menu, requires focus. The menu demands your attention, and thus, it sips away at your precious energy. Deciding what to order might seem like a tiny feat, but that’s where the problem lies.
Now, let’s talk about the kind of decisions that are hogging your focus and guzzling your energy. Ever heard the story of Barack Obama and his wardrobe choices? He once said,
“You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”
You might also be familiar with Steve Jobs and his iconic black turtlenecks or Mark Zuckerberg’s love for gray t-shirts.
Now, you might argue that you’re not in the same league as a president or a big-shot company executive when it comes to making daily decisions. But hear me out – even in your everyday life, you should try to avoid those pesky micro decisions that nibble away at your focus and energy. Micro decisions, and the tiny sense of accomplishment that tags along, are like the junk food equivalent for your mind.
Here’s how I tackle this dilemma: I’m a big fan of random.org wherever it makes sense. I stick to the “Last In, First Out” approach for my wardrobe. Plus, I’ve got nifty apps on my phone and computer that change my wallpaper every day, no extra thought required. And when it comes to ordering food, I often just go for the usual or the first thing on the menu that catches my eye. These are some of the ways I dodge those micro decisions.
In a nutshell, remember that micro decisions tend to divert your mind towards the nitty-gritty and drain your energy. It’s perfectly fine to indulge in some micro decisions now and then, just like it’s okay to treat yourself to junk food occasionally. But here’s the key: ‘done’ is way better than ‘perfect.’ So, prioritize getting things done over obsessing about perfection, especially when it comes to micro decisions. Save that precious energy for the real game-changers.
So, what are some of the daily micro decisions that you can cut from your life and give your mind a little breather?