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Decision-making comes in all forms and frequencies. Whether it’s choosing what you want for breakfast or whether or not to prepare for an important meeting. It’s a skill, that in both work and personal endeavours, is essential. Though, with so many distractions and available options at our fingertips, sometimes making the right choice initiates unwelcome panic.
Big decisions, little decisions, all of it can be overwhelming when indecision dominates. Could be due to a lack of confidence you’re feeling or the remanence of a productivity lull. Could be a trait you’ve unconsciously acquired. Whatever the culprit, or the severity, a wavering mindset shouldn’t be a permanent fixture in your life, but rather a quality that needs a little development.
In the long run, learning to trust yourself, your instincts, and your ability to make sound choices is a life tool that benefits everyone, from all walks of life. Especially when it comes to roles in upper management or growing a business. In these positions, strong decision-making skills are not only an asset but a requirement. You need to trust your own verdicts before others can follow suit.
The good news is that wherever you fall on the decisiveness spectrum, there are a variety of techniques that can both aid and enhance your decision-making skills.
Work on your confidence
Self-assurance is integral to decision-making. Working on your confidence internally will help you to exhibit it externally. Look for ways to boost this part of you. A few things you can try are:
- Having an exercise routine for consistency
- Maintaining healthy eating habits that fuel your mind, body and soul
- Practising self-development mantras every day
- Learning a new skill
- Attending public speaking workshops
- Trying new hobbies
Check your productivity levels
If you’re lacking productivity and feel burnt out, chances are you’ll be less motivated to make quick decisions or worrisome about it when you need to. When this behaviour takes centre stage, sluggishness and hesitation thrive.
Here are some motivational tips to try if unproductive behaviour is causing uncertain tendencies:
- Create a routine that you can rely on
- Get organized at work and at home
- Limit mindless browsing time
- Use apps like TimeIvy to avoid unproductive habits
- Start a hobby or join a class to nourish your passions
- Challenge yourself daily
Avoid over-stressing
Stress can damage more than just your energy. It impacts your body, brain power and mental health. Not to mention, your capacity to trust your inner voice.
For most of us, stress is extremely difficult to avoid altogether, its presence pops us at work, at home, and within our own expectations. If it’s affecting your decisiveness, the following tactics might assist.
- Treat yourself to a spa day
- Meet friends and family outside of work to socialize
- Get moving or do yoga
- Check your vitamin levels
- Get sufficient sleep every night
Make your goals a priority
Set goals on a regular basis and make an effort to accomplish them, without overdoing them. This will develop a reliance within yourself and uplift your self-assurance, ultimately making choices a little simpler to make.
Keep track of your goals and measure them weekly. Have you advanced in your endeavour? Are you behind? Do you need to leave some time in your schedule for it? These are all questions you can ask yourself and build into your routine. The more goals you can accomplish, the better you’ll be at relying on your instincts.
Weigh the outcome
When you’re unsure of the outcome or afraid of it, confusion and reluctance often set in. Therefore, weigh up the possible outcome of each choice. To do this, you can:
- Write down the pros and cons
- Type it out on your computer
- Add it to your phone notes
- Speak to someone about it or say it out loud
- Make a mental note of the variances
Use whatever method you’re comfortable with. This will create a clearer outlook and enable you to make a proper decision. One that’s based on facts and realities, rather than worry and anxiety.
Set deadlines
Along with goals, deadlines help to create internal reliability and enrich your ability to make good decisions. Deadlines can also help with maintaining productivity and reducing stress because you know what to expect and when things need to be done.
Giving yourself a time limit can also aid the decision-making process. For example, if you’re choosing which chocolate bar to buy from the store, give yourself two minutes maximum to make a selection.
Avoid straying from your deadlines too much, but don’t be too hard on yourself if one passes. You can’t be perfect all the time.
While indecision is a part of human nature, its prevalence shouldn’t be daunting or consistent. You can use these methods on minor decisions first and work yourself all the way up to the major leagues. Or if you’re feeling bold, start with the big stuff. With time, tenacity and a change in habits, you’ll have no problem picking a breakfast order or smashing it as CEO.
Know that you can better your life and enhance your success by learning to trust your decisions. The choice is now up to you. What path will you choose?
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