The past two months have been unusually busy for me. Between work, travel, and a calendar that seemed to fill itself, even the things I scheduled for good, proactive reasons started to feel like a lot.
I found myself juggling multiple medical appointments—nothing urgent, all intentional, all about staying ahead of things—yet even those began to feel mentally heavy.
Not because I doubted the value of preventive care. Quite the opposite.
It was the sheer number of decisions involved: scheduling, rescheduling, preparing questions, coordinating logistics, and figuring out what needed attention now versus later.
At some point, it all started competing for the same mental space.
That experience got me thinking about how easily decision‑making itself becomes a form of fatigue.
When life is full, even well‑intentioned health decisions can feel overwhelming. And when that happens, delay doesn’t come from avoidance—it comes from exhaustion.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Decision fatigue is real, and it affects how and when we engage with healthcare.
This issue of The Flame takes a closer look at how decision fatigue shows up in everyday health decisions—and offers a few ways to lighten the load before “I’ll deal with it later” becomes your default.
— Betty Long, RN, MHA, President/CEO, Guardian Nurses Health Advocates
Decision Fatigue Is a Health Issue
By February, many people feel worn down in ways that are hard to name. They’re not necessarily sick, but they’re not quite themselves either. Appointments get postponed. Symptoms are minimized. Messages in patient portals sit unanswered. It’s not avoidance—it’s exhaustion.
What many people are experiencing is decision fatigue, and it can quietly interfere with health.
Decision fatigue occurs when the brain becomes overloaded by choices. Daily life already demands constant decision-making, and health concerns add another layer: Should I call my doctor or wait? Is this symptom worth mentioning? Do I need a referral? What will this cost? How do I find a new primary care provider? Over time, the mental energy required to make thoughtful decisions wears thin. When that happens, people often don’t make poor choices—they make no choice at all.
How Decision Fatigue Affects Health
Healthcare decisions rarely come one at a time. A single concern can involve choosing a provider, navigating insurance rules, scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, and fitting it all into work and family life. When stress is already high, this can feel overwhelming. Even writing it feels overwhelming!
Decision fatigue often leads to delay. Preventive care is postponed. Follow-ups fall through. Medications aren’t taken consistently—not out of neglect, but because managing details feels like too much. Unfortunately, waiting can lead to longer recoveries, higher costs, and avoidable emergency care.
Tips to Minimize Decision Fatigue
The goal isn’t to “push through” fatigue—it’s to reduce the number of decisions competing for attention. Here are some suggestions:
- Simplify choices. When possible, limit options. Ask providers to help narrow next steps instead of presenting every possibility at once.
- Write it down. Keeping symptoms, questions, and medications in one place reduces mental clutter and prevents important details from being forgotten.
- Prioritize one decision at a time. Focus on the next right step—not the entire plan. One appointment scheduled is progress.
- Set default actions. Scheduling routine appointments in advance or choosing a regular pharmacy and provider reduces repeated decision-making.
- Ask for support early. Having a trusted professional like Guardian Nurses help organize care, clarify options, and coordinate next steps can significantly ease cognitive overload.
Why February Makes It Worse
Winter compounds fatigue. Shorter days, disrupted sleep, lingering illnesses, and cumulative stress all take a toll. By February, people often start noticing symptoms they’ve been ignoring—persistent coughs, exhaustion, changes in vision or balance—right when they feel least equipped to act.
A simple check‑in can help: Ask yourself, “What health decision have I been putting off because it feels like too much?” That answer is often the best place to start.
Your health shouldn’t feel like a test of endurance. When decision‑making becomes the barrier to care, it’s a sign that support—not willpower—is what’s truly needed.