Why Wearing The Same Clothes Daily Improves Decision-Making
December 22, 2012 5 Comments
Here’s an observation: it seems that each day, we get a certain amount of capacity to make decisions — a “tank of fuel” if you will.
Each decision we make, no matter how small, subtracts from our available fuel. At some point, we deplete our tank and decision-making becomes impossible or severely flawed.
If this is true, it means that to the degree you can minimize the number of decisions you make in a given day, the more you have left for important matters.
And this is why I’ve found that by wearing the same clothes every day (or by intentionally limiting my options), the amount I subtract from my tank is minimal (or nothing at all). Instead of having to worry about matching shoes, socks, pants, belt, shirt, and coat, I provide myself with a set of clothes that are easy to mix-and-match (or nearly identical).
And this leaves me more fuel for the day.
I’ve also noticed that at the end of a long day of decision-making, I have little left in the tank for my wife. A simple question about a mundane household task can feel simply overwhelming.
Thus, if this crazy theory is true, then we should minimize BS for ourselves (like the hassle of having to put together a new outfit everyday), and therefore improve our ability to make important decisions (as well as have meaningful interactions with our loved ones).
What do you think? Could wearing the same thing each day yield more capacity for decision-making? Or is this a weak excuse on my part to explain poor fashion sense?
About David Rosendahl
Akathisia: Life In Motion -- David Rosendahl 
Hmmm…interesting perspective. I definitely think that wearing the same thing everyday has its place. I believe that wearing uniforms in schools, for example, has huge benefits. However, I do think that choosing your outfits everyday can show creativity and based on the situation/job/market you are in that can be important. Also, clothing is definitely a way to represent oneself and communicate to the world a little about your personality. I like the idea of not having to make the decision about what to wear each morning because you have seen first hand how hard/frustrating and emotionally draining that can be for me at times. I have had success in setting out a weeks worth of clothing and also purchasing clothing items that can be interchanged and pieced together very easily and that has helped a lot. Lastly, I would go crazy if I wore the same thing each day. It would be like eating the same meal everyday. I know that you can do it but I won’t. I love you!
Being able to wear the same thing every single day (i.e scrubs) is a godsend!! I have always managed to work in fields where I had a uniform and I love it. Maybe you could design some sweet polos or button ups with your company logo on it? Because if you don’t clearly define it as a uniform wearing the same thing everyday is just going to make you look creepy….
Your spot on, I feel the decision limit often.
With your theory, getting into any routine would help improve your decision making? Could this lead to in the box thinking?
Kevin I think routine does help (kind of like how we drive to work without much thought–scary). And yes, it probably could lead to stagnant thinking! Guess you have to vary things from time to time to gain new perspective.
I think this is a great idea. For all the reasons you mentioned, as well as the fact that this creates a personal identity.
Mark Zukerburg, Obama, Steve Jobs, etc all did this and they created a ‘uniform’ for their brand as well.
AJ | TheAJMinute
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