Science explains why great minds choose the same outfit every day!

Choosing what outfit to wear every day may seem trivial, but it's actually a decision that requires mental energy. We make between 10,000 and 40,000 decisions every day, ranging from the least important to the most important.

“The more energy we devote to unimportant tasks, the less important options we have left over,” says Bob Posen, a lecturer at MIT and author of the book “The More Energy We Devote to Unimportant Tasks, the Less We Have of Important Options.”Maximum productivity.

Decision fatigue theory and clothing selection

This accumulation of choices leads to what psychologists call decision fatigue, a form of mental exhaustion resulting from constantly making decisions. Decision fatigue is a theory that explains why these brilliant minds choose simplicity in their wardrobes.

Decision fatigue theory, developed by social psychologist Roy F. Baumeister, holds that the more decisions we make, the less our mental energy decreases.

This affects our ability to make informed decisions and can even lead to worse choices. This theory suggests that our brain works like a muscle: the more we use it, the more tired it gets.

According to a study published in 2016 in With peopleIndividuals have difficulty making informed decisions after spending several hours on activities such as decision making. In fact, images obtained via brain scans indicated that over time, the activity of the lateral prefrontal cortex decreased, reflecting a decrease in their mental energy.

Notable examples of matching outfits: Einstein and Obama, Jobs and Zuckerberg

Steve Jobs is famous for his black turtleneck shirt, an outfit he wore almost exclusively. This uniformity in clothing allowed him to focus on more important tasks, such as running Apple and innovating in technology.

For him, every decision was important, and choosing his clothes every day was not his priority. ” I don't want to care about what I wear every day, so I have the same jeans and the same black jacket He said in an interview with Walter Isaacson on his authorized biography.

For his part, the owner of the theory of relativity adopted a distinctive dress that did not change much with the passage of time. He was often seen wearing a gray suit, white shirt, and lace-up shoes.

Other personalities such as Zuckerberg or Barack Obama are also known for adhering to a uniform clothing style in order to reduce the mental load associated with choosing clothes.

Follow advice from decision fatigue theory

To combat decision fatigue, it is recommended to simplify daily choices as much as possible and learn how to manage our mental energy more effectively. For many great creatives and leaders, wearing the same clothes every day is a strategy to reduce that fatigue and free their minds for greater accomplishments.