Decision fatigue is real

Mismatch theory denotes that, thanks to our evolutionary history, we are maladapted to thrive in the modern world. Unlike our ancestors who struggled for variety, we almost have too much. This can lead to decision fatigue with some sources saying we make around 36,000 decisions every day. No wonder we can feel overwhelmed, we only have a finite amount of brain power after all (try not to think of a white bear, dare ya). 

How do we make better decisions?

I try to create an idealised identity and then use this to inform my decision-making. An example, are you a smoker, someone who’s giving up smoking or a non-smoker? I wager if you identify as either of the first two, you will smoke a lot more. 

Self talk. 

“If you knew how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.”― Peace Pilgrim

Easier said than done. 

It would be a scary thing to see your thoughts transcribed. Some thoughts you can’t control as you’ll know if you’ve every attempted to meditate or journal. But you can start to shape the narrative. Talking to yourself like you would a friend is much more useful and constructive.  

The power of compounding. 

At 10 years old he started investing, by 30 he had a net worth of over $1 million (over $9 million in today’s money) and now in 2024 an estimated $133.6 billion. 

This man is Warren Buffet, one of the world's richest men and most respected investors. But what, if like most of us, he followed a more typical trajectory? 

If he started investing in his 30s and then got out of the game in his 60s to enjoy his retirement and many grandchildren. What would the difference be?

A rough estimate… 

Not billions.

But $11.9 million. A number so different it's hard to believe. 

Compounding shows that you can outperform the average with consistency. Chasing the big wins one year and not being able to replicate it the next means you will be dwarfed by those who take consistent action in the right direction. The sooner you start, the more time you will have to take advantage of its power.

Compounding doesn’t need to be just financial. I have been thinking about how compounding applies to my health, learning and skill development. I have been focusing on building consistent habits and systems that move me closer to my goals. 

Use it as motivation to start now not as a signal that there’s no point. There’s no fun in cheat codes and instant mastery after all.

In the latest Evolve Journal we decided to add an 'Advice For Future You' prompt on the daily pages. The purpose behind this was to encourage ourselves to take the time to really reflect on our day and record tips we could refer back to to propel us on our journey of self-awareness.

I won't pretend that I fill out this prompt every day, and that's alright. There's no point forcing something that isn't there. But I am conscious of not missing it two days in a row because, once I fall out of the habit, it's harder to pick up again. 

So, let's delve into the inner workings of my mind...

1. Take a break when you're too tired to concentrate and come back stronger. Don't spend an hour on something that could take 10 minutes. 

^ I also really like sardines! 

2. Thank yesterday, Love today, Create tomorrow. 

3. Keep the process going. Positive mental attitude.

4. Don't spread yourself too thin. Focus on something and do it all in. 4 focuses is too many. 

Reflecting upon what I've been writing - the advice is just as relevant at the time of writing as it will be in the future. 

You get the benefit from writing it in the moment and again a second time when you read it back. (It's also nice to see the weirder stuff that makes it in there like my apparent affinity for sardines).

Taking advice from other people can be difficult. Taking your own can be even harder. If we're able to do it though it can be incredibly rewarding. 

To understand the power of this exercise - try this. The next time you catch yourself engaged in any sort of negative self talk, ask yourself - would I speak to a friend like that? 

Your 'Advice to future you' journal prompt is a simple way to practice speaking to yourself like you would a friend.

Email us at hello@evolvejourney.co.uk with any advice you would like to share. 

Stay friendly x 

A blank canvas can be quite intimidating. When you sit down to paint, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Perhaps it’s a block of creativity or imposter syndrome creeping in. Either way, there’s a very good reason why masterpieces don’t occur accidentally. It’s because they are bloody hard work.

Recently I attended a painting course at the remote Burgh Island Hotel in Devon with the brilliant artist, Emma Carter Bromfield. Burgh Island is a special place, 200m off mainland England, only accessible by a narrow strip of sand which disappears at high tide, leaving only a sea tractor or helicopter as remaining options, the latter being more common than you’d think. The dramatic waves and textured coastline made it the perfect place to get inspired and try to learn something new.

Pictured: Burgh Island on a much calmer day

Below are some lessons I took from it that were more than just brush techniques and could be applied more generally to make for a better life.

In no particular order:

• Do the basics well and consistently. Throughout the day, Emma kept reminding us of something simple she wished she knew when she first started painting over 20 years ago: correct setup and regular maintenance of your area. If you don't have your house in order and the basics sorted, everything else is more difficult; those moments of doubt, panic, and when it all goes wrong are going to be exacerbated. Keep paints on the right side of your canvas if you're right-handed, give yourself plenty of space to move freely, make sure nothing is touching your canvas and clear your space regularly. If your house isn't in order, you will end up with a muddy mess through either silly mistakes or lack of order and separation.

• Lower your expectations. If you think you’re going to magically skip the thousands of hours it takes for mastery, you’re mistaken. Instead, lower your expectations and be happy with your progress, big or small. In the early days of pursuits, disconnecting from the end outcome can be helpful and instead focus on the benefits of the process itself. Be okay with the fact that it is all growth, mistakes are retrievable and often make for a completely new horizon. Quite often for the best, and if not, there's certainly a lesson to be had. Adopt a learning growth mindset, appreciating that the mistakes are just lessons.

• Embrace artistic license. Don’t be afraid to embellish with artistic license to let your creativity flow. Don’t let preconceived notions and fixated ideals halt your progress and frustrate you. The end result may be far away from what you first imagined, but it may still be an awesome outcome.

• Know when to stop. Perfectionism could make things better, or you could end up overworking it and never having any output.

• Learning from someone else's mastery is a tremendous shortcut. Being able to leverage someone else's techniques, ways of working, and advice they’ve picked up from thousands of hours working on something fast-forwards the learning process and is a shortcut to improvement. That's exactly why we are so fond of journaling and are fascinated by the human lessons that have stood the test of time. They have survived because they are so relevant, even today. 

• Everyone has to start somewhere. Don’t let fear of being a novice stop you from trying. Before the course, my own insecurities made me worry that I would be out of place in a room full of talented artists, that I would be mocked for my stickmen. Far from it, everyone was at different stages but super supportive. Taking action might at first feel daunting, but what you can achieve in the long term will be staggering. Don’t regret never starting.

Is there anything you're excited to try or learn? What lessons, coaching or extra help would help you? You'd be surprised how inexpensive and widely available these are in almost anything.