How to Ditch Decision Fatigue and Make Smarter Choices Without the Stress

How to Ditch Decision Fatigue and Make Smarter Choices Without the Stress

Ever feel like your brain is on a never-ending treadmill of decision-making?

You’re not alone.

McKinsey research shows that executives spend between 40% to 70% of their time making decisions. That’s a huge chunk of your day spent deciding everything from big strategic moves to whether you’ll reply to that email now or later.

No wonder decision fatigue creeps in, slowing you down, leading to second-guessing, or worse—pushing you to make choices that don’t serve your business.

But here’s the thing: decision fatigue isn’t just annoying, it’s costly.

A report from Decision Design Australia found that poor decisions by leaders lead to higher business costs (58%), lower profits (40%), and declining sales (35%). That’s a scary reality check, right?

So what do you do about it?

Here are three simple, practical ways to take control of your decision-making, free up your mental space, and keep your business movin forward without burning out.

 1. Set Your True North – So You’re Not Winging It

If you’re constantly questioning what the right move is, chances are you’re lacking clarity on your bigger picture. That’s why having a True North (aka a clear vision, direction, and priorities) makes decision-making a whole lot easier.

Think of it as your filter for saying yes or no. If an opportunity, project, or idea isn’t moving you closer to your goals, it’s a no. Simple as that.

One way to do this? Create a Plan on a Page – something short, sharp, and easy to reference so you (and your team) always know what’s important.

No more overthinking every little choice—just check in with your plan and move forward with confidence.

2. Stop Being the Bottleneck – Turn Doers into Decision-Makers

Here’s a hard truth: if you’re making every single decision in your business, you’re probably the reason things are slowing down. When your team keeps coming to you for approval on every little thing, it’s exhausting. For you and for them.

Instead, empower them to make their own decisions. Give them the confidence, clarity, and structure to step up, so you’re not the go-to for every minor call. And if the thought of this freaks you out, check out Michelle and Douglas’ story from Healthy Hustle. They left their business for a year to live in Spain, and the company didn’t fall apart. Why? Because they prepped their team to think and decide without them.

So, what’s one decision you can hand over today to start shifting the dynamic?

3. Automate Your Decision-Making – Ask the Right Questions

Not all decisions need hours of thinking time. Some just need a quick gut check. That’s where a decision-making framework comes in handy. Instead of debating every choice, run it through three simple questions:

Does this take me closer to my goal? If it’s not aligned with where you’re headed, it’s a distraction.
Will this keep my hustle healthy? If saying yes means longer hours, missed family time, or burnout, it’s worth reconsidering.
Does this feel right? If your gut is screaming “no,” listen to it.

Here’s the rule: Three yeses? Go for it. Two yeses? Dig deeper. One or zero? It’s a no.

Stick this somewhere visible (on your desk, in your notes app, wherever you’ll actually use it) and save yourself from endless decision paralysis.

Your Next Step – Because This Stuff Only Works If You Use It

Decision fatigue is real, but you don’t have to let it control you. In the next 24 hours, take a moment to:

✅ Write down your top three decision-making questions (feel free to borrow ours).

✅ Start handing off one decision to your team, even a small one.

✅ Check your Plan on a Page (or create one!) so you’ve got a clear guide for future decisions.

Less decision fatigue, better choices, and more time for the work that actually lights you up.

Give it a go, and let me know how you get on.

 

Ness is a Business and Leadership Coach and co-author of Healthy Hustle – The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business and Life. Her approach is grounded in practicality and empathy because she believes in the power of careful, thoughtful decision-making that respects your needs. Having run successful coaching businesses since 2015, Ness is obsessed with helping business owners and leaders thrive. She helps her clients install smart business growth strategies and leverage leadership for peak performance.

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Four Ways to Keep the Sales Hustle Healthy

Four Ways to Keep the Sales Hustle Healthy

In today’s fast-paced sales environment, healthy hustle isn’t just a buzzword… it’s a necessity. 

The pressure is intense, with 54% of sales professionals reporting that selling feels harder than it did last year.

A massive 67% of business development and salespeople are on the edge of burnout.

With budgets tighter, lead times longer, and trust harder to gain, it’s more important than ever to find sustainable ways to succeed in sales without burning out.

Here are four strategies to keep your sales hustle both productive and sustainable:

1. Align Sales and Marketing.

When sales and marketing work in sync, conversion rates can leap by 38%, and customer retention can rise by 36%. 

Ensure your sales team is receiving qualified leads that match your ideal customer profile. This alignment not only drives better results but also eases the workload on your salespeople by bringing in leads who are genuinely ready to engage.

2. Adopt an Active Sales Process.

Instead, shift to an active sales process that includes pre-qualifying leads, engaging early on LinkedIn or other channels, and warming up prospects before the first meeting. 

When every potential client (aka lead) feels known and valued, you’ll find the conversion process smoother and quicker.

3. Go Beyond Email.

Don’t rely on emails alone to nurture your leads. Try creative touches like LinkedIn voice notes, a short video via Loom, or even a handwritten note. 

These personal touches cut through the digital clutter and build genuine connections, helping keep you top of mind without overwhelming your prospects.

4. Embrace Sales Archetypes.

Every salesperson has unique strengths… some are charismatic “Influencers,” while others are detail-focused “Specialists.” 

Recognise these archetypes within your team to maximise everyone’s potential. Schedule calls, client meetings, and follow-ups during their most productive hours, and help each person use their strengths to drive results and satisfaction.

Learn more about the four sales archetypes here – https://businesstogether.com.au/the-specialist-vs-the-influencer-who-wins-in-sales/ 

If you’re aiming to keep your sales hustle healthy, start by strengthening your approach with these simple and easily actionable steps.

Ps. If you want more ways to keep your sales hustle healthy – grab a copy of our book here 👉

Or for a taster download for the first chapter for FREE 👉 here
Busy or Productive? There’s a Big Difference

Busy or Productive? There’s a Big Difference

How often do you hear yourself saying, “I’m so busy,” when someone asks how you’re doing? 

It’s become the universal badge of honour!

But let’s pause for a moment.

What if being “busy” isn’t the same as being productive?

Imagine this: your day is packed. You’ve crossed off ten things on your to-do list, answered emails, and attended meetings. But as you sit down at the end of the day, you realise the big, meaningful task you needed to tackle is still untouched.

Sound familiar? 

That’s the busy trap… a whirlwind of activity that doesn’t actually move you forward.

Here’s the truth: busyness often hides a lack of clarity or focus. 

The good news? 

You don’t have to stay stuck.

Here’s how to get unstuck.

1: Recognise the Trap

Did you know that 88% of people procrastinate daily, and 51% of their time is spent on low-value tasks? When you’re overwhelmed, it’s easy to fall into patterns that feel like progress—responding to emails, organising your desk—but don’t create meaningful results.

Action: Take a moment right now to evaluate your to-do list. Identify one task that feels productive but doesn’t truly move the needle. Then, replace it with one high-value task that aligns with your biggest goals.

2: Shift Your Perspective

The key isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters. In Healthy Hustle, we talk about balancing action with intentionality. When you stop running on autopilot and start prioritising tasks that align with your goals, you’ll notice a meaningful shift in your productivity and clarity.

Action: Pick one task you’ve been putting off because it feels challenging or uncomfortable. Commit to tackling it first today. Often, the most valuable tasks are the ones we avoid, and taking action on them builds momentum and clarity for the rest of your day.

3: Create Space for Focus

To escape the busy trap, you need to give yourself permission to pause. Reflect on your priorities and take small, purposeful steps toward them. It’s not about doing everything, it’s about doing the right things.

Action: Take a moment to pause and ask yourself, “What would success look like for me at the end of today?” Write down one clear outcome you’d like to achieve, and set aside uninterrupted time to work on it.

Our book Healthy Hustle dives deep into how you can ditch the busyness and design a life where your time is aligned with your goals. 

It’s about working smarter, not harder, and finding the flow that lets you thrive in business and life.

If you’re tired of feeling busy but unfulfilled, now is the time to make a change. 

Grab your copy of Healthy Hustle here and discover the blueprint for a more productive, balanced life.

Let’s move from busy to thriving, starting today!

Ness is a Business and Leadership Coach and co-author of Healthy Hustle – The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business and Life. Her approach is grounded in practicality and empathy because she believes in the power of careful, thoughtful decision-making that respects your needs. Having run successful coaching businesses since 2015, Ness is obsessed with helping business owners and leaders thrive. She helps her clients install smart business growth strategies and leverage leadership for peak performance.

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Could Your Beliefs Be Limiting Your Business Growth?

Could Your Beliefs Be Limiting Your Business Growth?

You might not realise it, but the beliefs you hold (consciously or subconsciously) are playing a huge role in shaping your business outcomes.

Whether it’s your mindset around money, your views on success, or how you approach sales, these beliefs are influencing every decision you make.

Let’s explore three key areas where your beliefs might be holding you back, and how changing them can create real business transformation.

  1. The Invisible Money Beliefs

How you view money can dramatically affect your business. Many of us unknowingly carry limiting beliefs like “money is scarce” or “you have to work hard to make money.” These mindsets can lead to decisions based on fear, like underpricing your services or avoiding investments that could help your business grow.

Shifting this belief to “money is a tool to create value” can open the door to greater financial abundance.

  1. The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Hard Work

Do you believe that success only comes from working harder? Many business owners are stuck in the hustle mentality, convinced that long hours and constant effort are the only way to achieve their goals. This belief often leads to burnout and inefficiency.

The truth is, working smarter—not harder—produces better results. It’s about finding ways to leverage your time, streamline operations, and focus on high-value activities, so you can grow your business without sacrificing your well-being.

  1. Challenging Long-Held Beliefs from Childhood

The beliefs we adopt in childhood—whether about hard work, success, or leadership—often go unchallenged throughout adulthood. These beliefs shape how we approach our careers and businesses, but they may no longer serve us.

By actively questioning and replacing outdated beliefs with more empowering ones, you can create a mindset that fosters growth rather than limits it.

Changing your beliefs isn’t easy, but it’s essential if you want to grow your business in a meaningful way.

Start by reflecting on what’s driving your decisions—are those beliefs helping you move forward or keeping you stuck?

Ness is a Business and Leadership Coach and co-author of Healthy Hustle – The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business and Life. Her approach is grounded in practicality and empathy because she believes in the power of careful, thoughtful decision-making that respects your needs. Having run successful coaching businesses since 2015, Ness is obsessed with helping business owners and leaders thrive. She helps her clients install smart business growth strategies and leverage leadership for peak performance.

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Time Management is Dead: The Real Secret to Business Success is Energy

Time Management is Dead: The Real Secret to Business Success is Energy

Let’s be honest, time management is overrated. If you’ve spent years trying to fit your life into neatly scheduled 9-to-5 blocks, you know the struggle. 

For most of us, it’s exhausting, unproductive, and frankly, outdated. 

The real secret to success? Managing your energy.

Here’s the deal: we don’t all work the same way, and that’s okay. 

I used to push myself to stick to rigid schedules, thinking that’s what “success” demanded. But after too many repeated patterns of pushing too hard, I realised something game-changing: I wasn’t failing at time management, I was ignoring how my body and brain actually work

Some days, I can power through tasks like I’ve got the energy of ten people; other days, I’m practically running on empty by midday. Can you relate?

This isn’t just personal, it’s universal. Every single person on your team has their own natural rhythm, and as a leader, forcing everyone into a cookie-cutter workday is a fast track to exhausting them. 

 

People aren’t robots. One-size-fits-all productivity just doesn’t work.

And yet, so many business owners and managers still cling to the idea that productivity equals hours worked. It’s time to stop pretending that everyone should be “on” at the same time, at the same pace. The real question is: are your people working when they’re at their best?

Creating a flexible work environment that respects individual energy patterns isn’t a luxury. 

When we stop managing time and start managing energy, everything changes. 

You create a team that’s engaged, thriving, and, most importantly, sustainable. Business success isn’t about working more, it’s about working smarter.

So, why cling to outdated schedules when the future of success is rooted in how well you manage energy.

What’s your favourite way to manage your energy to keep the hustle healthy?

Nicky

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How to Ditch Decision Fatigue and Make Smarter Choices Without the Stress

The Dangerous Reality of Hustle Culture

We live in a world that glorifies the hardcore hustle – the idea that working harder, longer, and faster is the only path to success.

But behind the scenes, this version of hustle culture that so many of us subscribe to is a leading cause of burnout, strained relationships, and declining mental health. 

This doesn’t just affect leaders; it impacts entire teams.

Have you ever felt that taking a break is a sign of weakness? 

Or that your worth is measured solely by your productivity?

The truth is, this relentless grind is unsustainable. 

It leads to exhaustion, not excellence. Worse, it often results in focusing on tasks instead of meaningful outcomes.

It’s time for a mindset shift.

We’ve all heard “hustle hard,” but what if that mindset is actually holding you back?

Success shouldn’t come at the cost of well-being.

How to Escape the Daily Whirlwind and Focus on Growth

The whirlwind of daily tasks can trap us in a cycle of busy, making us think the solution is to ‘work harder’. But real growth requires a smarter approach.

Here’s how you can break free:

  • Delegate tasks: Focus on what only you can do, and empower others to take ownership of the rest.
  • Set clear priorities: Align your daily actions (set weekly top 5’s) with your larger goals (quarterly milestones), both in business and in life. This clarity will make decision-making easier.
  • Carve out time for what matters: Block out regular time for deep work, strategic planning, and essential but often neglected tasks, like coaching your team or reviewing finances.

It’s time to step out of the whirlwind and into a space where you can focus on what really makes a difference.

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