Make the Decision Once

One of my favorite behavior-change questions is simple: What decision am I making over and over that I could just make once?

Take exercise, for example. I used to get hit with major decision fatigue before going on a bike ride: Where do I go? How far? How fast? What route should I take?

My fix? I joined a bike club. The route, pace, and time are already decided - I just show up and pedal.

The exact same principle applies to food:

• Breakfast: Rotate through 2–3 defaults instead of staring into the pantry every morning.

• Dinners: Keep a master list of 5 reliable meals so you aren't inventing a menu from scratch while hungry after work.

• Groceries: Stick to a core list instead of wandering the aisles making dozens of micro-choices.

Setting a default isn't locking yourself into a rigid rule. It’s simply offloading the mental burden and telling your brain: You don't have to solve this again today.

Where in your life could a single default save you a week's worth of decision fatigue?