Are you indecisive? If so, making a decision and sticking to can be one of the hardest tasks to complete. Heck, ordering a meal at a restaurant might be incredibly difficult! We know that making decisions can be complicated and painful, but it doesn’t have to be! Here’s how to be more decisive, focus on the things that matter, and find pathways to simple solutions.
Practice Making Small Decisions Quickly
If you go back and forth with big decisions, you probably do the same with little things. To gain more confidence and become more decisive, you need to ease your way into it.
That’s why we suggest practicing making small decisions quickly. How? Give yourself 30 seconds to make a simple decision, like what to eat for dinner or what movie to watch. Go with your gut! Ensure you follow through (no second-guessing!) to build your decision-making muscle. Repeat the process. Eventually, you’ll train your brain to act and react faster – and be able to face bigger decisions with ease.
Narrow Down Your Options
Making big decisions can be overwhelming. If you’re working with a ton of options, narrow things down and don’t waste too much time getting into specifics.
Here’s an example: You’re starving, sitting at a restaurant, and it’s time to order. You want everything. Note the pros and cons of a few dishes and ask yourself a series of questions: What did you eat for dinner this past week? What do you eat all the time? Do you have any sensitivities? This process of elimination should help you narrow down your options.
Stop Overanalyzing
Overanalyzing comes naturally to us. But as an indecisive person, you’ll stay stagnant if you overanalyze every single decision you make. So just – let it go!
Ask for Advice
On your path to becoming more decisive, you may stumble a few times. That’s okay. Instead, ask a friend, family member, or colleague that knows you well for advice. These people can help steer you in the right direction because they know what’s best for you and can help provide helpful insights. They may not be able to make the final decision, but they can provide relevant information to help move you along.
Practice Visualizing
The problem with indecisiveness is that you can’t always see how a scenario will play out, creating a fear of the unknown. If you practice visualizing outcomes and playing out scenarios in your head, your brain will be conditioned to make decisions faster.