The fatigue we do not see: Understanding decision fatigue

By Halima Ahmed, M.A., and Justin Curry, Ph.D. 
October 8, 2026

Photo of two people loading a moving truck
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Phaff

Think back to when you first woke up. Chances are it did not take long before you had a decision to make. Do I get up now or hit snooze one more time? What should I tackle first? From there, the decisions continue throughout the day. How many problems have you solved? How many priorities have you balanced? How many times have you had to stop, consider your options and decide what comes next? Not all work that wears us down is physical or visible.

When we think about fatigue, the first thing that often comes to mind is physical exhaustion. Our bodies often give us signs when it is time to slow down or rest. However, fatigue is not only limited to physical fatigue. The work our minds do over time can also leave us feeling fatigued and affect how well we think and process information.1 Think about how often that mental work revolves around making decisions. Some decisions do not require much thought; however, others often require us to stop and reflect on a variety of choices before deciding. 

This is called “decision fatigue.” Decision fatigue is described by Pignatiello et al. as the “the impaired ability to make decisions and control behavior as a consequence of repeated acts of decision-making.”2 In other words, making decisions constantly can have an impact on how we approach decisions that follow. Think about something familiar to many service members and military families: moving. Permanent Change of Station, or PCS, orders may determine the next duty station but that does not eliminate the decisions that come with preparing for a move. Military OneSource provides overall guidance related to planning one’s move which includes relocation assistance program, finding a house, shipping, and other tools to provide support for moving.3 Before a single box is packed, a lot of decisions need to be made. By the time the physical work starts, a lot of mental work has already taken place. For service members and veterans navigating these changes, the inTransition program can serve as a resource to find mental health providers and stay connected to care.

Decision fatigue may not always present itself as tiredness. It can show up in how we approach the decisions that come next. We may put off deciding, make a more impulsive choice, or simply go with the flow rather than thinking through our options. These changes in our approach to deciding has been associated with decision fatigue.2 As one becomes drained by the decision-making process, research shows individuals are more likely to lean towards choices that require less effort.4

So, what can we do when we find ourselves making one decision after another? Sometimes, giving our minds a break may be a good place to start. Research has found that taking moments to pause during a long period of decision making may help with some of the effects of decision fatigue.5 It may not always be possible to take a break, but when it is, giving our minds the space to pause before the next decision needs to be made is just as important as giving our bodies the chance to rest.

Resources

References

  1. Behrens, M., Gube, M., Chaabene, H., Prieske, O., Zenon, A., Broscheid, K. C., Schega, L., Husmann, F., & Weippert, M. (2023). Fatigue and Human Performance: An Updated Framework. Sports medicine, 53(1), 7–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01748-2
  2. Pignatiello, G. A., Martin, R. J., & Hickman, R. L., Jr. (2020). Decision fatigue: A conceptual analysis. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(1), 123–135. doi:10.1177/1359105318763510
  3. Military OneSource. (2026, March 11). PCS: The Basics About Permanent Change of Station. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/moving-pcs/plan-to-move/pcs-permanent-change-of-station-basics/
  4. Maier, M., Powell, D., Murchie, P., & Allan, J. L. (2025). Systematic review of the effects of decision fatigue in healthcare professionals on medical decision-making. Health Psychology Review, 19(4), 717–762. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2025.2513916
  5. Soukup, T., Gandamihardja, T. A. K., McInerney, S., Green, J. S. A., & Sevdalis, N. (2019). Do multidisciplinary cancer care teams suffer decision-making fatigue: An observational, longitudinal team improvement study. BMJ Open, 9(5), e027303.. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027303

Halima Ahmed, M.A., is a contracted program manager for the Defense Health Agency, Psychological Health Center of Excellence. She provides consistent, efficient, and quality support by aiding in the successful production and execution of project goals.

Justin Curry, Ph.D., serves as the chief of the Surveillance Section and leads the Project Management Office at the Psychological Health Center of Excellence.