Every day we make tons of decisions. Some are
smaller than others, and some are more life-changing than others.
However, sometimes we find ourselves caught between
two (or more) equally attractive options, and we just go down the spiral of
indecisiveness.
Personally, some of my days start off with the
struggle of picking an outfit. Consequently, I start the day late and some of
my plans might get off the rails before they even begin.
Indecisiveness is not an uncommon problem. Most people experience it, and in
some cases, they consider it a character trait. Is it though?
While several factors can contribute to indecisiveness, my personal favorite
is the paradox of choice.
This is where having so many options makes it more
difficult to make a decision; thereby suggesting that lesser options make
decision-making easier. Sometimes the constant evaluation and reevaluation of
the options also makes it complex for us to get to a final decision.
Occasional indecisiveness is harmless, but when it
is persistent, it might have some not-so-nice consequences such as procrastination.
Below are some tips you can consider when making a decision proves to be
difficult.
8 Ways to Deal With Indecisiveness
Weigh
your options
Sometimes the options you have seem equally
attractive until you properly weigh them.
Find a piece of paper or in the notes App on your
phone and list the pros and cons of all the options. Visualizing these
will help you narrow down your options and render decision-making a bit
easier.
Do
some research
In some cases, you have little information about
one or even all the choices available.
This lack of information makes decision-making
challenging, as you will be unsure of what you will be missing out on. Doing
some research pertaining to your options puts you in a position to make more
informed decisions.
This is particularly important if you have to make
big decisions that could be life-changing, such as choosing a university to go
to or a therapist to go with.
Ditch
perfection
Perfectionism and indecisiveness go hand in hand.
Chasing perfection might result in you avoiding decision-making entirely.
Because you want to make a perfect choice, you are
scared of even making a choice, just in case it is not the perfect
choice. In some cases, you need to understand that you’re not perfect,
and no one is.
Sometimes you will make decisions that will not be
the perfect outcome, but turn out to be teaching moments.
Limit
your options
Remember the paradox of choice I mentioned earlier?
Beat it by reducing your options.
Buying only two boxes of cereal means you have to
decide between the two rather than the five you usually buy. Having
fewer clothes in your closet also makes it easier for you to pick an outfit.
If you pay attention to how most successful people
dress, you will notice that they wear almost the same outfit every day.
Flip
a coin
When you have narrowed it down to two options,
sometimes simply flipping a coin will save you from going down the rabbit hole
of making decisions.
Unsure whether to get food from KFC or
McDonald’s? Flip a coin and let the odds make the decision for
you.
Don’t
ignore your instinct.
Using logic is definitely great, but sometimes you
have to pay attention to your instincts.
Some things might look appealing, and logically,
they seem like a good decision. However, if and when your inner voice
tells you otherwise, don’t ignore it.
Realize
the possible outcomes of indecision.
Keeping in mind that indecision might have more
consequences than either of the choices you make, will help you realize that
you have to make a decision.
Not making a decision in time might result in you
missing deadlines or something along those lines. Weighing
the possible negative effects of either of the choices vs. those of not making
a decision will push you towards making a decision.
Establish
firm deadlines
Sometimes we fail to make decisions because we
think we have enough time to make the decision.
Give yourself firm but realistic deadlines. When you know that you are supposed to have completed something by a certain date or time, you will likely be more motivated to make the decision and get things done.
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