May 12, 2025
Decision Fatigue: Why what you wear might be draining your brain (and how to change that!)
Michaela Sargeant | Read in 5 minutes
Every day, an average adult makes around 35,000 decisions — consciously and unconsciously. From what time to wake up, to what to eat, how to phrase an email, whether to say yes to a meeting invite, or which route to take home. But there’s one category of decision-making that often gets overlooked, despite how much mental energy it consumes: personal appearance.
What to wear. Which colours work. Whether that makeup suits the occasion. These choices seem small, but together, they contribute significantly to what psychologists call decision fatigue—a cognitive decline in the quality of our decisions after a long session of making choices.
Let’s explore why this matters—and what can be done about it.
What Is Decision Fatigue?
Coined by social psychologist Roy Baumeister, the term "decision fatigue" describes the mental depletion that happens after too many decisions. According to research, our ability to make sound decisions diminishes as we make more of them throughout the day. Even minor decisions contribute to this fatigue.
Studies have shown that even highly successful people (think judges, CEOs, and doctors) make poorer choices later in the day because their mental resources have been worn down. Their cognitive resources are simply worn out. Every morning, before your day really begins, your brain might already be tired—just from figuring out what to wear.
The Hidden Cost of Daily Style Decisions
When we don’t have clear parameters for what suits us—whether in terms of colour, fit, or personal style—we enter a loop of micro-decisions that sap time and energy. The result? Decision paralysis, self-doubt, or settling for what’s "good enough" instead of what’s right.
This mental load doesn’t just affect how we dress—it ripples outward. Studies show that high cognitive load reduces willpower, impairs focus, and can even increase anxiety. That’s a steep price for something that should feel simple.
So how do we reduce the number of unnecessary decisions we make — without losing creativity or authenticity?
Where Colour and Style Analysis Come In
Colour and style analysis isn’t about fashion for fashion’s sake. It’s about creating clarity. When you understand what works for your unique features—your skin tone, body shape, personal energy, lifestyle—you eliminate guesswork.
✔️ Colour Analysis
This is rooted in colour theory and how certain hues reflect on the skin. Wearing colours that align with your natural undertones can make you appear more vibrant and rested—while the wrong tones can create a dull or washed-out look. Once you know your palette, choices become easier and more effective.
✔️ Style Analysis
This involves identifying the lines, proportions, and silhouettes that best suit your physicality and personality. It’s less about fashion trends and more about personal geometry and authentic expression. With a clearer sense of style identity, you reduce decision overload by knowing what aligns with your aesthetic—and what doesn’t.
✔️ Wardrobe Editing
This is where analysis becomes action. With a curated wardrobe built around your colour palette and style preferences, you can get dressed quickly and confidently. Instead of staring at dozens of uncooperative garments, every piece is a “yes.”
How This Translates to Everyday Life
In the Workplace
Decision fatigue can quietly erode performance, confidence, and focus—especially when it starts before you’ve even opened your laptop. If you’re unsure whether your outfit is appropriate, polished, or reflective of your role, that low-level uncertainty can linger throughout the day. A clear understanding of your professional style, combined with a wardrobe that supports your goals, reduces that friction. When you no longer have to think about whether you look the part, you free your mind to be the part—present, confident, and focused on your work.
In Parenting
For parents, especially those juggling the demands of young children and household chaos, decision fatigue is a familiar companion. Choosing what to wear can feel like just another task in an already mentally overloaded day. When your wardrobe is aligned with your colours and lifestyle, getting dressed becomes one less hurdle. It may sound small, but that saved mental bandwidth can go a long way—whether it's staying patient during tantrums, juggling school runs, or simply being more present in the joyful (and chaotic!) moments that matter.
In Relationships
Decision fatigue doesn’t just affect how we function individually—it also quietly influences how we show up in our relationships. When our mental reserves are depleted by constant, low-level decisions (like what to wear or whether something suits us), we may become more irritable, less patient, or emotionally unavailable without even realising why. This can strain our ability to connect meaningfully with partners, children, friends, or colleagues. By simplifying repetitive choices like daily appearance, we preserve more energy for empathy, active listening, and thoughtful communication—creating space for more intentional, fulfilling interactions with the people who matter most.
Mental Energy Is a Finite Resource—Use It Wisely
Reducing decision fatigue isn’t just about clothing—it’s about preserving your cognitive resources for the things that matter: meaningful work, parenting, relationships, problem-solving, creative thinking. Your energy should go toward living, not endlessly choosing between shoes.
A streamlined, intentional wardrobe is a surprisingly powerful tool for mental clarity. It acts as a silent support system: it simplifies your mornings, builds confidence, and gives you back bandwidth to show up fully in other parts of your life.
Reducing decision fatigue isn’t about removing all choice—it’s about building systems that simplify decisions and align with who you are. House of Colour services offer clarity in a noisy world. They give you a framework for confidence—so you can spend less time in front of the mirror and more time on the things that truly matter.
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Did you know that I am available for workplace talks, presentations and staff wellbeing days? Contact me to chat more about your thoughts and how I can tailor the time to meet your requirements.
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Michaela Sargeant, House of Colour Horsham, Dorking, Haslemere & Petworth