Decision fatigue is a negative aspect of nomadic living for many people. Due to the nature of life on the road, the nomad may need to make many decisions during the course of the day that wouldn't be part of a conventional lifestyle.
Living on the road means you are much more aware of things to do and see in the world. You'll constantly be asking yourself what and where you experience next. This may involve a lot of research and decision-making to ensure that you can stay within your budget and spend your money and time effectively.
You must regularly decide where to park for the night. This includes many sub-decisions:
- Is overnight parking allowed here?
- Is anyone likely to bother me? (Will I get The Knock?)
- Will I be a bother to anyone if I park here?
- Is this neighborhood safe?
- Is there a public bathroom nearby? (if your vehicle doesn't have it's own toilet)
- Will this location be too loud overnight?
- Will this location have a different situation in the morning?
Nomads typically go shopping for necessities more often than those in sticks-and-bricks residences. With limited storage, you may need to buy food every day or two instead of once a week.
If you enjoy boondocking for longer periods, shopping for a long time away from stores involves lots of decisions and planning. How much fresh water do I need? How much food do I need? Will I have enough propane?
You may need to alter your decisions when circumstances change. For example, if you need a package delivered and it doesn't arrive on the day it was supposed to, you may need to rework your itinerary around that change. Changes in the weather can force a change in your plans, prompting a new round of decisions.
Building out your van obviously involves many, many decisions. What kind of vehicle should I buy? How will my kitchen and beds be configured? How much insulation do I need? What will my electrical system look like?
If you have pets, many decisions are affected. How long can you safely leave them in your vehicle? Will someone try to break my window to "rescue" them? What places can I go that accept pets?