During my five-month trip, decision fatigue got the best of me. Here's what I’d do differently.

I hadn’t backpacked since I was 28 in Southeast Asia. Now, five years later, I found myself eager to explore foreign places and channel the youthful, carefree attitude I had in my twenties. My “plan” was simple. I had five months to explore Latin America with my partner. My best friend lives in Panama, which meant I had a starting point and I didn’t plan beyond that.

I expected to revive that spontaneous vibe of my late twenties. Although, like with many travels, my expectations versus reality threw me for a loop. At 34, things are different now. I’m different. My values, priorities, perspective, and mindset have also shifted. I couldn’t quite embody that unconcerned girl from my past. My struggle with decision-making has become an issue recently. That indecision followed me south.

Once in Panama I began frantically scouring the internet for the best, most affordable activities, accommodations, and restaurants. The blogs, travel websites and accounts are fantastic resources, but the countless options made my brain feel like it was about to explode. Travel blogs warned against missing out and living with regret forever if I didn’t follow their advice. Every minute spent online only fuelled my growing anxiety. When travelling, you just can’t do it all. I was making matters worse because I couldn’t even decide on anything! It was hard to enjoy the moment when I was constantly unsettled with indecision.

Decision fatigue, similar to burnout, can leave you feeling depleted. Travel is the perfect breeding ground for that. You have to decide on a destination, budget, style of travel, accommodation, activities, where and what to eat, and all the rest. My struggle with decisions, though often trivial, felt draining. In hindsight, here’s what I would do differently:

Create spending boundaries

Like many travellers, I stress about spending. My financial anxiety led to impulsivity. When I didn’t want to weigh decisions, I became careless with my money. To cope with stress around planning, I also resorted to retail therapy. Even though I had planned to be frugal, my spending was out of control because I wasn’t being disciplined. I knew I needed to stretch my funds for months, but the thoughts around decisions were causing it to drain faster and that concerned me.

What would I do differently? Set spending boundaries. Not having done that meant I kept the door open to too many options instead of narrowing them down. That contributed to decision fatigue. For example, I contemplated flying to Mexico for a week, returning to Colombia, and then spending a week in the Galapagos, where I’d sleep in a tent because I couldn’t afford accommodation. This was a legitimate (albeit chaotic) thought process. One moment, I was saving by cooking meals and staying in budget places, and the next, I was convincing myself to splurge on a yoga retreat in the Amazon. Even thinking back on it is exhausting. This freedom I gave myself wasn’t actually freeing at all. I gave myself too many choices and I was drowning by overthinking them all.

Lesson learned. Next time, I’ll set a spending cap before I leave, deciding on a daily or weekly maximum. To keep myself accountable, I’ll use a spending tracker, put money in a specific account, and monitor it daily each morning. And of course, using cash always helps when you can physically see it dwindling. Setting these limits also limits options and decisions.

Leave some things to fate

Leaving some things to fate or committing to days where you just go with the flow means not having to use brain power to settle on a plan. Sometimes, there’s nothing simpler than an old-fashioned coin flip. Can’t decide between green curry or pad Thai? Just flip a coin—heads or tails, baby! Sure, this tactic isn’t appropriate for every decision, but it can definitely simplify the small stuff. Can’t pick a tour or decide what to do on any given day? Throw some options into a literal hat. Get recommendations from hostel staff and go with what they suggest. Ask a server’s opinion on what you should order. Chat with other travellers in your hostel common space and commit to one of their recommendations without wasting time and energy reading every single review.

Make decisions based on values

Living in the Yukon for four years left me isolated and sick of the cold winters. My trip to South America felt like a much-needed escape. But instead of asking myself what I truly needed, I left with a lofty list of must-dos to prove I could gain perspective or skills that might have been more realistic had my trip been years-long instead of five months.

That lack of clarity led to feeling numb, confused, or overwhelmed by all the goals I set for myself and array of options I left on the table. Narrow it down. The questions to ask are: What do I need? What do I value most? What’s my top priority? In retrospect, what I needed was a chilled-out vacation on a beach with lots of sunshine and very little to do. Instead, the trip turned into five months of constantly moving from place to place every few days or weeks.

I had also hoped to meet new people to fill a void and social life I’d been missing. I value friendship and meaningful connections. Instead of focusing on this, I was absorbed in shopping, eating at trendy restaurants, or trying to make my partner happy. When that was said and done, I was too tired to socialize.

Defining and making travel decisions according to values also means putting yourself first sometimes. Reflect inward and focus on what will truly gratify you during this trip you’ve been eagerly awaiting. Identify your own needs and see that they’re met. It’s a lot like putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. Focusing on your own needs can lead to a smoother travel experience for all parties involved too. For me, this would have looked like prioritizing my mental health and giving myself more rest and relaxation. Especially when overwhelmed. Or, it could have looked like stepping away from the battleground for many couples which is deciding what and where to eat. Not every meal needs to be a joint decision or the best meal ever. Sometimes, an order of fries is good enough.

The bottom line to all of this: save your energy for what really matters.

Have a routine, even if it's loose

Not long ago, the word “routine” made me feel sad and bored. The thought of predictability seemed monotonous. But I’ve come to appreciate the value of predictability and I think that having even a bare-bones routine while travelling can eliminate so much decision fatigue. Embracing structure even on vacation makes life feel more grounded and days easier to plan. On vacation, I often threw routines out the window, but having a loose structure—like morning stretching and journalling—alleviates decision-making stress. Plus, leaning into this idea means accepting that not every day has to be the Best. Day. Ever. That pressure alone makes even the simplest decisions feel high stakes. Sometimes, embracing monotony provides stability and creates serenity.

I realized this after returning home from my trip. Moving in with my sister and her husband introduced me to the calming effects of routine: waking up and going to bed at the same time, planning meals like pasta Wednesdays, and going for daily walks. Now, after experiencing this sweet, predictable life, I see the value.