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Burnout Before Summer Even Starts? It Might Be Decisional Fatigue
- Piper Harris, APC NCC
- May 27
- 3 min read
It’s not even officially summer, and I already feel like I’m running on fumes.
The past few months have been a whirlwind—balancing client care, business planning, parenting, familial drama, shifting hormones (wow mid40's is tough!), a husband retiring and starting a whole new career, my eldest graduating high school, and trying to remember if I’ve eaten anything other than coffee and protein bars!
Maybe you’ve been there too. The kind of stretch where your body feels tense, your brain fogs over, and even small decisions—like “Should I make dinner or order out?”—feel like boulders.
This isn’t just a busy season. It’s mental depletion. And it’s got a name: decisional fatigue.
The Burnout You Can’t Quite Name
When most people think of burnout, they imagine months of grinding work or emotional overwhelm. And while those are real, there’s another version I see in both my clients and myself: the slow creep of having to constantly decide, filter, fix, manage, and weigh options—day after day.
It’s not dramatic. It’s sneaky.
You second-guess. You scroll instead of act. You say “I don’t care” when you do. You check out. And then you blame yourself for not “doing more.”
That’s decisional fatigue.
It shows up especially strong this time of year—in the transition into summer—when the routine changes but the demands don’t really ease up. For some, there are kids at home, shifting work hours, social invitations, and travel plans. For others, it’s the pressure to enjoy the summer while also “getting back on track.”
So we keep deciding:
Do I work out or rest? Do I email back or wait? Should I take on that new project or just hold still?
And in the process, we wear ourselves out.
What Exactly Is Decisional Fatigue?
Decisional fatigue is the mental exhaustion that comes from making too many decisions in too short a period of time—even small ones.
It drains your executive function—the part of your brain responsible for logic, planning, and prioritization. When it’s taxed, everything starts to feel foggy. Your productivity dips. Emotions run high or flat. And you may find yourself unable to do anything more than sit and scroll… and then feel worse about it.
This isn’t about laziness. It’s about a brain that’s overstimulated and under-supported.
A Simple Reset: The B.E.T. Scan
One of the tools I use with my coaching clients is a modified version of a method called Trainspotting. For decisional fatigue, I adapt it into something I call the B.E.T. Scan—a quick way to pause the mental spiral, clear a bit of space, and regain clarity.
Here’s how it works:
B.E.T. = Body – Emotion – Task
BODY What is your body telling you? Are you tense, slouched, racing? Rate your energy on a scale of 1 to 10.
EMOTION What emotion is quietly (or loudly) running the show? Not what you think you should feel—but what’s actually there?
TASK What’s the one decision or task that’s pressing on your brain the most right now? Name it. Don’t act—just label.
Now ask yourself:
Do I need to act, delay, or delegate this?
What would reduce my cognitive load by just 10% right now?|
This isn’t a cure. It’s a clearing. A breath. A permission to stop trying to out-think your exhaustion and start managing it with honesty and compassion.
You’re Not Lazy. You’re Fried.
If you’ve been pushing yourself and wondering why you can’t focus, can’t choose, can’t care—please hear this: it’s not a personal failure. It’s a neurological overload. And it can be addressed with tools, systems, and support.
Whether it’s through coaching, therapy, or small daily shifts, you don’t have to keep powering through.
Your brain is not broken. It’s just tired.
Want a complimentary B.E.T. Scan download?
Grab it below
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If decisional fatigue is running the show, it’s time to take back the lead.
Whether you’re seeking therapy or coaching, I offer structured, results-oriented support tailored to your needs.
Let’s talk.
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