Choice, Habit, and Impulse

Entering a nearby breakfast-all-day restaurant, I felt more in the mood for eggs Benedict than a cheddar-broccoli omelet. Knowing the menu held other options gave me a nice sense of agency, but I never saw reason to open it.

I’ve often said, half in jest, that going by routine or habit saves my thinking power for matters I care about. It turns out scholars now say the same in earnest. Making choices taxes the brain, especially if they’re high stakes or difficult. Overdo it and decision fatigue sets in. The rational brain tunes out in favor of procrastination or impulse.

Our prehistoric ancestors evolved to keep decision fatigue at a minimum. They did most things the way they had before. So do we; it saves on brainpower and carries a track record of survivability. Humans evolved a fast system to respond to immediate threats with little or no conscious thought. When chased by a tiger, you don’t decide, you just run. And they evolved a slower, more deliberate system to weigh complicated options. Nowadays, we often expect a heavier load of rational decision-making than our brains evolved to handle.

So I’m comfortable leaving the menu closed, knowing I have lots of options but needn’t consider them all. I’m happy to enjoy spontaneity and novelty when I’m in the mood or invested in the result, and to leave the rest to habit. I trust my thinking brain to be alert enough to keep my impulses within safe bounds.

Maybe next time I’ll order the omelet.

Image: Photo by Bady Abbas on Unsplash.