The Science of Decision Fatigue: Why Important Choices Should Be Made in the Morning

Research shows decision quality deteriorates with the number of decisions made. Judges grant parole 65% at session start vs near 0% by end (Shai Danziger study). Shopping choices made later in the day are less healthy. The mechanism: willpower and cognitive resources are finite and depletable. Practical applications: Steve Jobs' identical daily outfit, Obama's 'decision menu' (only blue/gray suits), meal prepping to eliminate daily food decisions. AI assistants are the ultimate decision fatigue solution: offload routine decisions to algorithms, preserve cognitive resources for high-impact choices.