3 Tips to Tackle Decision Paralysis
“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. Decision paralysis is 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. 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. You
can avoid paralyzing your decision-making faculties due to fatigue by delegating
tasks that are not essential or do not require your specific expertise and talking
to a trusted loved one or a capable colleague before making a decision,
especially when you are feeling fatigued.
2. Don't delay the decision. Decision paralysis can trigger people’s procrastination tendencies. When we feel underconfident while making a decision, we often postpone the ordeal altogether. However, research suggests that the more we delay a decision, the less likely we are to ever make it. We need to start before we feel ready to ensure that we actually embark on the journey. Learning and reiteration can happen along the way, but it is action and not thought that predicts success or failure.
3. Consult your values. Feeling conflicted can bring decision-making to a screeching halt. In such situations, research published in the Journal of Research in Personality suggests that you should strive to "ego-align" your decisions. Ego alignment refers to the connection between an individual’s ability to know what is expected of them and what feels like the "correct" action in pressing situations. Individuals who have high levels of ego alignment are likely to live better and less conflicted lives
Making better decisions, in most cases, is not about superhuman intelligence. Instead, one must work on resilience, integrity, and self-awareness to become a better decision-maker.”
Read the whole article at Psychology Today
#Decision-Making #Cognition
💬 Do you consider yourself a confident decision-maker?
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@globalBraid3744 Thank you for posting this. This is great information.
@patientKiwi2599
Thank you for reading :)
#2, was new to me. I didn't know that procrastination in making the decision would be dangerous. This is something that I do daily - I pause making the choice in showering, or answering a text, thinking I'd have more energy to shower/text back. When in reality, my procrastination in doing that decision adds more to the cognitive overload/decision fatigue.
@tealBear2472
The same for me! The more I keep putting it off the more cognitive fatigue and stress I feel especially with an important decision. I think that it also works similarly with other activities. When I wait until I feel better or have energy than I just spent my day not doing anything but when I go out (or start another activity) despite not feeling like I end up having fun.
Wow! Thank you for this article. Definitely needed this information right now. I would say my decision making approach has become belabored. I was very cautious before my first MH crisis in 2020; now I am doubly so. So many things I need to consider and life is more complex/nuanced than it was previously (prior to serious MH issues). What about the connection between high sensitivity/intuition and decision making? How does hypersensitivity effect our processing and decision making?
