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GATEPOST Guidance

By Ashley Wall Interim Editor-in-Chief Pancake brands are not a reason for panic

By Donald Halsing Editorial Staff

The world we live in today is full of options - too many options. From the food we eat to the shows we watch, limitless possibilities often contribute to indecisiveness.

A plethora of paths to choose from induces something called “decision fatigue.” Reaching a state of analysis paralysis can turn any decision-making process sour. Decision fatigue occurs when someone is presented with too many options. The process of trying to choose the best choice wears people out, and eventually they give up and make no decision at all.

Suppose you want to watch something on Netflix, but there isn’t anything in particular you’re hoping to binge. Instead, you scroll through suggestions, search for shows, and watch trailers.

This process becomes tiring, and eventually the act of searching for a show sucks up all of your enthusiasm to watch anything.

Choosing a new show becomes an intimidating barrier, and often leads to feelings of defeat, resulting in that familiar “The Office” theme song playing once again.

If you have experienced this phenomenon, congratulations! You have experienced decision fatigue first-hand!

This problem is more prominent than ever because of the number of streaming services available.

When you pay for access to Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ - among others - not using these platforms to their full potential wastes your hard-earned money. Now that content owners are launching their own streaming services, there is pressure to keep up with each new platform and shell out dollars for “Finding Dory” every month. The amount of content - both old and new - is too much to keep up with. Even those with cable television know the sentiment “hundreds of channels and nothing to watch.” We struggle to pick on a daily basis. Are people too picky? Do we enjoy this dilemma?

However, this problem is not exclusive to entertainment media. It also applies to our basic living needs.

Back in the good old days confused souls couldn’t decide between jumping rope or playing checkers - yes, there was a time before technology! But nowadays, technology is taking over: people can’t decide between going shopping in person or online shopping - especially for food.

Many shoppers are torn between the convenience of smartphone apps and delivery services or going to a physical store to grocery shop.

Although some people find it a hassle, shopping for food in a physical grocery store allows you to pick the finest produce and make the best selections of available stock.

Conversely, stores such as Wegmans even have in-store shoppers that will do the hard work for you, and deliver it right to your home or car. Apps such as Instacart offer an array of stores that provide this service as well.

Whether in store or online, shoppers are still faced with the indecisiveness of creating grocery lists and sticking by them.

In shopping apps, flipping through the pages of products can become repetitive, only to find they don’t carry the item you are looking for. This discourages people from continuing with their orders because of the amount of work associated with it.

The same can be said for grocery stores. Pushing empty carts aisle to aisle quickly leads to defeat as the peanut butter you’re looking for is hidden in the back corner of the store.

We understand your pain. Sometimes it’s easier to leave the cart behind than trek into the deep unknowns of Stop and Shop in order to complete your meal plans.

Because people don’t plan ahead, they go into a store getting everything but what they need - and that’s a waste of time and energy.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon applies to more than just television and shopping. Finding activities to do, especially during the summer months and holidays, is often a hassle. Selecting the best case for your phone from several colors and patterns is challenging. Even deciding which drink you want from a restaurant is cause for calamity.

No matter which choice you are making, decision fatigue discourages people from making any verdict whatsoever.

If you feel yourself experiencing decision fatigue, remind yourself that we have all felt this way at one time or another. Push through and make a selection because any choice is better than no choice.

And the next time you find yourself strolling along the grocery aisle deciding what to have for breakfast, stop dwelling on your decision and just pick which pancake mix you want already.

[Editor’s Note: Gatepost Guidance is a bi-weekly column. The opinions of the authors do not reflect the opinions of the entire Gatepost staff.] OP/ED

College is a balancing act THE GATEPOST EDITORIAL

As students in college, we often find ourselves juggling one too many tasks - something we’re sure many of you can relate to.

Whether it be managing your course load, working full-time, or catching a break to go out and socialize, most of us struggle to maintain all three.

It’s like walking a tightrope. The more you’re forced to carry, the harder it becomes to maintain your balance.

From tyrannical managers, to unreasonable hours, and even unaddressed workplace hostilities, it can seem impossible for a student to find the time - or mental stability - to do their classwork.

Similarly, overbearing syllabi, hours worth of homework for single classes, and multiple 10-page papers all due at once can make it seem impossible to balance a part - or full-time job.

But a lot of people still manage to do it - and so can you. To start, we recommend keeping an agenda. Planners are a cheap solution to completing work on time and keeping up with your responsibilities. Whether it be something as small as a Hallmark Holiday or as big as that 10-page paper, the Dollar Store has your back.

If you work during the semester, we also recommend being open with your boss at the very start of your tenure.

Sitting down and having a conversation regarding your availability is crucial to juggling the role of a full-time student. Trust us - you do not need to be a hero and work every day if you can’t handle it. If your boss unreasonably demands you work more hours than you can manage, that job may not be the place for you. Your education should always come first.

You have every right to refuse or leave your job to find a new one - one that will work with and value you and your schedule.

A great opportunity to consider is one of the many on-campus jobs the University offers.

From being a Security Desk Attendant to working in the campus bookstore, there are a plethora of jobs you can find at FSU that allow more than enough time to get school work done.

Every employer on campus recognizes you are a student first and foremost. For that reason, there is a 20-hour per week cap for student employees. Plus, some on-campus jobs - such as the Student Transportation Center - provide more than minimum wage.

Living on campus and avoiding the local traffic will not only help you save on gas, but leave more money in your pocket.

We also recommend being totally transparent with your professors. More often than not, professors will be inclined to work with you if you’re open about your anxieties and busy schedule. They understand you have responsibilities, as they were once college students, too.

Chances are they went through exactly what we’re going through now.

The final piece of advice we offer is realizing when you have too much on your plate.

Know that it is OK to take a break between assignments, and request a weekend off from work so you can go to that concert with your friends - your future self will thank you.

College is supposed to be the best years of your life. Don’t make them years you will look back on with regret.

Have Letter to the Editor? Have a question for Gatepost Guidance? Feel free to email it to: gatepost@framingham.edu Letters should be approximately 500 words. We look forward to hearing from you!