Too Many Choices, Too Little Willpower

We live in a free market, surrounded by endless options. In theory, that’s great. In practice, it often leads us astray.

We reach for cookies instead of broccoli, choose parties over sleep, and grab cute shoes when we really need snow boots. By Friday night, it’s all about comfort food and Netflix.

Deep down, we know these aren’t wise choices. No one’s ever proudly claimed to thrive on the Voodoo Donuts Diet. But we still make them—not because we’re self-destructive, but because we’re worn out from deciding.

This mental burnout is what our parents might’ve called “lack of willpower.” But as behavioral economist Dan Ariely explains in Understanding Ego Depletion, willpower is a limited resource. We start the week strong—early mornings, healthy meals, gym sessions—but by the weekend, we’re skipping breakfast and calling chips a meal.

The Decision Overload Problem

Modern life demands more decisions than ever before. Our ancestors had fewer options: They got up early to feed animals, ate the same food daily, and didn’t agonize over what to buy for Christmas. Fewer choices, fewer decisions—and often, less stress.

High performers in business understand this. Take Steve Jobs, for example. He wore the same outfit every day and stuck to a simple routine. By reducing small, daily decisions, he preserved mental energy for bigger challenges.

So How Can We Conserve Willpower? Build Habits.

• Wake up at the same time each day.
• Eat the same breakfast.
• Schedule your workouts.
• Let someone else plan your exercise routine.

Personally, I try to offload as many choices as possible. Once I’ve made a decision, I rarely revisit it—that second-guessing drains energy fast. Making the decision is hard; living with it is usually much easier.

If you’re trying to get back on track with fitness or nutrition, make it easier on yourself. Start a 12-week challenge. Sign up for a class where someone tells you what to do. Prep your meals when you’re rested—like Sunday afternoon. Follow a proven plan until habits start to form.

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to take action without getting stuck in the weeds of indecision. I have a coach who tells me what to do—and that frees me up to make better choices in the rest of my life.

Ready to let someone else handle the fitness decisions? Come in for a free Welcome Meeting and let us take some mental load off your plate.