Visuals Combat Decision Fatigue

Deborah DeLue • May 4, 2022

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking


The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES.  Vol. 3 No. 9  May 6, 2022

Applied Visual Thinking logo with purple road and orange burst

I read something recently about decision fatigue. According to Roy Baumeister and John Tierney, authors of the New York Times bestseller Willpower, decision fatigue can lower your willpower and cause you to do things you hadn't planned or might not be in your best interest. We all have tons of decisions to make daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. So finding simple solutions to make decision-making easier is a great idea.

 

Do you have an important decision coming up? A vacation to plan? A big purchase to make? Or a meaningful change to complete in your life or business? Applying a little visual thinking can be just the thing to help you clarify your thinking and make the best decision. 

Want to give it a spin?


You'll need something to write on, something to write with, and a simple 2 x 2 diagram

Someone drawing on a whiteboard
  • Step 1:  Give it a name - across the top of your paper, write down the decision you're trying to make. For example, where to go on vacation this year.
  • Step 2: Create a 2 x 2 diagram - first, draw a line to divide your paper in half vertically, then draw a line to divide your paper in half horizontally. You'll end up with four sections.
  • Step 3: Label the sections - Starting in the upper left, label the first section MISSION CRITICAL. Next, in the upper right-hand area, add a label of NICE TO HAVE, label to the lower left-hand section WANT TO AVOID, and finally, label the last section DEAL BREAKER.
  • Step 4: Now, the fun part - starting with the MISSION CRITICAL section, do a brain dump of all the essential items, features, or functions your final decision must include. For example, if you are longing for a beach vacation, which for you means walking out your door and onto the sand, or you have a strict budget of $1000 for a hotel room, note it down as MISSION CRITICAL. Keep going until you run out of things you consider essential for the success of your plan, project, or change.
    Next, move on to the
    DEAL BREAKER section and repeat the process considering all the things you can not accept. For example, if you cannot stand crowds and humidity, a wildly popular location in the tropics at the height of a tourist session could be a DEAL BREAKER. Finally, plot the in-between - things that fall into either a NICE TO HAVE or a WANT TO AVOID. For example, a spa or sports activities might be NICE TO HAVE while a very long drive or several plane changes might be a WANT TO AVOID.
  • Step 5: Color code it - with a different color circle the top 1 to 3 things in each section. Adding color will further clarify your thinking and highlight the most crucial items, features or functions.


The final result is a clear, concise picture of your needs and wants for a successful outcome. Armed with this information,  you can begin your research and go on to make a decision you can feel very confident about much faster and easier.


For more practice using visuals, check out all the Applied Visual Thinking Courses or get in touch to let us know what YOU need to make happen using visuals.


PS. There are lots of way to represent the idea of decisions. Grab your pens, try out a few of these icons and create some of your own!

Share with a friend

visual thinking icon cloud
November 8, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 23, 2024 - Why visual thinking is mission critical and what to tell your boss.
photo collage with images of sticky notes on a laptop, microwave and inside cover of tablet
October 25, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 22, October 25, 2024 - Surprise yourself with visuals for a boost of focus, productivity and creativity.
drawing of a green dragon bursting through the October page of a calendar
By Sheri Kennedy October 11, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 21, October 11, 2024 - Tame your distraction dragons with VISUALS!
drawing of a ninja holding a big pencil, peering over an October calendar page with color blocks
By Sheri Kennedy September 27, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 20, September 27, 2024 - Be a Visual Calendar Ninja!
By Deborah DeLue September 13, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 19, September 13, 2024 - Read along for a nourishing harvest of visual takeaways and some time-saving pro tips.
Drawing of a person giving verbal instructions to someone who is confused
By Sheri Kennedy August 30, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 18, August 30, 2024 - Simplify your instructions with visuals.
Digital drawing of notebook, black pen, blue and purple markers, latte in mug and cinnamon roll
By Sheri Kennedy August 2, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 16, Aug 02, 2024 - Boost your visual thinking practice ON THE GO.
A scared figure with an animal lurking in the bushes
By Deborah DeLue July 18, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 15 July 19, 2024 - Want to weed out negative bias and differentiate between perception and reality? Grab some paper, pens, and markers, and let's create a Reframing Doodle!
Drawn Map of Eastern Massachusetts with route to 3 ice cream shops, rated flavors and shop ratings
By Sheri Kennedy July 5, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 14 July 5, 2024 - The choice is easy when you use visuals. Ice cream!
By Deborah DeLue June 22, 2024
The Art of Applied Visual Thinking Vol. 5 No. 13 June 22, 2024 - Are you ready for a change? Visual Thinking Can Help!
Show More
Share by: