3 Tips to Tackle Decision Paralysis (Part 1)

Many people come to therapy when they feel like their decision-making capabilities have deteriorated to a point where they can’t even make the most basic decisions. They ask questions like these:

· “I used to be a quick and intuitive decision-maker, but lately I freeze at the prospect of having to make the tiniest decision. Why is this happening?”

· “My loved ones always get annoyed because of my severe indecision. How do I become a confident decision-maker?”

· “I miss out on so much just because I cannot be in the present and choose what I want. How do I make sure that making decisions doesn’t scare me anymore?”

If you find yourself asking these questions, you might be experiencing decision paralysis, a condition that renders you stumped in the face of an abundance of choices that are difficult to compare. Chronic decision paralysis can worsen your decision-making abilities in the long run.

Making strong decisions requires you to be sharp and mentally agile. Here are three rules of thumb to bring out your inner decisiveness.

1. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

The human mind is not equipped to make unlimited decisions on any given day. Every new decision you make, big or small, adds to the cognitive load on your brain. Too much load and your decision-making powers begin to falter. This is known as decision fatigue.

Here are a few ways you can avoid paralyzing your decision-making faculties due to fatigue:

· Delegate or automate tasks that are not essential or do not require your specific expertise.

· Talk to a trusted loved one or a capable colleague before making a decision, especially when you are feeling fatigued.

· Make a "loose" decision and review it when you are in a clearer state of mind.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202301/3-tips-to-tackle-decision-paralysis

How do you do with decision making in your life?

Read Part 2 here!

#Decisions #CognitiveFunctions #Personality