Why does depression make even simple decisions feel exhausting?

[Shree]

Have you noticed that choosing what to eat, wear, or do can feel unusually heavy on low days? What strategies help you reduce decision fatigue when everything feels like effort?

 

[Hazel]

Depression affects motivation, focus, and emotional energy, so even small choices feel heavy. The brain processes decisions with more effort, and self-doubt can slow things further. What once felt automatic now requires extra mental work, making simple tasks feel overwhelming and tiring.