Kita, above, believes that avoiding daily personal choices helps him prevent “decision fatigue” in our information-saturated world. - Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com
TOKYO: A man in Japan has consumed the same foods and followed fixed daily routines for over a decade to minimise decision-making, asserting that this lifestyle helps keep his mind clear.
Go Kita, 38, who works in the information industry, has maintained this “decision-free lifestyle” for 15 years, according to Japan’s TBS television.
Research indicates that individuals may confront up to 35,000 decisions each day.
In today’s information-saturated world, relentless decision-making can lead to “decision fatigue” – a state of mental exhaustion caused by the overwhelming number of choices.
Studies suggest that this fatigue can impair judgment, leading to procrastination or irrational decisions.
When Kita first entered the workplace 15 years ago, he found the multitude of decisions he encountered at work distressing.
To mitigate the choices he had to make in his personal life, he sought inspiration from former Japanese baseball star Ichiro Suzuki.
Suzuki reportedly followed a strict daily routine for seven years: starting each day with curry rice for breakfast, performing exercise warm-ups at specific times, and adhering to a set schedule for postgame baths.
By simplifying his daily decisions, Suzuki achieved laser focus in his training and games, culminating in an unprecedented 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons – the longest streak in baseball history.
Motivated by Suzuki’s example, Kita consumes nuts and ramen for breakfast, chicken breast for lunch, and stir-fried pork with bean sprouts for dinner every day.
He also takes fixed doses of nutritional supplements at regular intervals to ensure a balanced diet.
Kita opts for the same style of shirt and trousers each day and possesses multiple pairs of identical socks and underwear.
Additionally, his daily routines, including shaving, doing laundry, and trimming his nails, are meticulously scheduled.
Kita shares that by reducing personal choices, he experiences a lighter mental load, enabling clearer thoughts and more effective decision-making at work.
It remains unclear whether this lifestyle has caused him any drawbacks.
Kita’s disciplined approach has garnered attention on social media.
One online observer expressed support, stating: “Maybe I should minimise my decisions too. Every time I buy ice cream, I struggle to choose a flavour, and I end up with the same one anyway. It’s such a waste of time.”
Conversely, another commenter disagreed: “Such a monotonous lifestyle seems boring! Kita is missing out on many spontaneous joys in life.”
Meanwhile, a third individual suggested a different approach: “Why not implement a smarter method? Keeping a daily diary to reflect on the right or wrong choices made could enhance confidence in future decision-making.” - South China Morning Post
