Decision fatigue doesn't just affect the moment—it compounds over time. Poor evening decisions create problems requiring more decisions tomorrow.
Take Marcus, who depleted from his workday, orders pizza instead of cooking. Simple enough. But now: - He feels guilty about breaking his health goals (emotional drain) - He needs to decide whether to track the calories - He must figure out tomorrow's meals to "make up for it" - He debates whether to go to the gym earlier - He has to decide what to do with leftovers
One depleted decision spawned five new ones. This multiplication effect is why decision fatigue feels like quicksand—the more you struggle, the deeper you sink.