Why you're so tired by 8 PM (even if you haven't done too much)

We make hundreds of decisions every single day.
Some are obvious, like choosing what to wear or what to eat.
Others happen so automatically that we barely notice them.
By the time evening rolls around, all those tiny choices have added up. That's why deciding something as simple as what movie to watch can suddenly feel like a chore.

If that sounds familiar, you might be experiencing decision fatigue.

Decision fatigue is the mental exhaustion that comes from making too many decisions throughout the day. And it's usually not the big life choices that wear us out. It's the tiny ones.

Should I hit snooze for 5 more minutes?
Should I pair this top with blue jeans or black?
Do I reply now or later?
Should I have tea or coffee?
Do I take the metro or book a cab?

One of the hardest parts of adulting is figuring out what to feed yourself three times a day. Planning meals, checking what's in the fridge, deciding whether to cook or order in... it's a lot more mental effort than we give it credit for. 🫩

Then add work decisions, endless notifications, messages to reply to, errands and the invisible mental load many women carry, like remembering birthdays, planning ahead and keeping track of a hundred little things.

By the end of the day, your brain has made hundreds of decisions. No wonder choosing a movie or a restaurant suddenly feels impossible.

So the next time you find yourself staring at a menu, scrolling through Netflix for 30 minutes or saying "You choose, I'm okay with anything," cut yourself some slack.
Your brain has been making decisions all day.
Maybe it's just asking for a break.

At what point in the day do you feel decision fatigue hit the hardest? Let me know in the comments! 💬