How to Conquer Decision-Making Anxiety
Daily decisions take a mental toll, whether they are as small as choosing a meal or as large as choosing a profession. According to Washington State University, decision overload causes more than stress and emotional exhaustion. It leads to poor choices and procrastination.
It’s why so many CEOs wear the same outfit each day - if you only have 15 good decisions in you per day, why waste it on clothes?
How to Cope with Decision Anxiety
If you suffer from decision overload or decision anxiety, here are 3 simple methods to get you through it.
1. Reduce the amount of decisions you make throughout the day
Step 1 - it’s time to take inventory of your daily choices. Meals, outfits, which route to walk, which workout to do, which tasks to tackle, etc. One way to reduce these decisions is to incorporate pre-made plans where possible. For instance, following a meal plan takes the thinking out of eating.
When navigating social situations, try leaning into your moral values for clarity.
Are you struggling with the temptation to lie about results from a project? Whether your moral compass comes from religion, practicing of the golden rule, or belief in karma - decisions between right and wrong should be effortless.
2. Build confidence in your ability to make hard choices
Another cause of wheel spinning is a lack of confidence. Do you feel that you make poor choices often? Are you terrified of bad results?
The best way to build confidence in decisions is to make small choices and watch the result. What are some slightly scary jumps you can make? Purchasing your first pet, investing in the stock market, and being vulnerable in your relationship are scary but beneficial choices.
Try out some things you’ve been avoiding and watch yourself succeed. You got this!
3. Remember there is no “right” decision
Many of us place weight on what we should be doing. Should we take a new job? Should we move to a new state? You might be terrified of making the wrong choice and straying from your destiny.
Remember that this does not exist. There is no state where you’re destined to live, and you will not be messing with fate by choosing “incorrectly”. You might choose to move to a new state and like it, and you might stay where you are and like it equally.
Instead, focus on sticking to any choice and making it the right decision. Give it your all and never look back. Stay where you are and find your dream apartment. Move and convince yourself it’s the most exciting thing you’ve ever done.
You have the power to make the most of your life choices and feel happy in them. And you also have the power to pivot in the future!
Usually, decisions are hardest when you’re weighing similarly good or bad options. Not because the choice will make or break your life.
Start practicing new decision-making habits
By reducing unimportant daily decisions, building confidence in your choices, and employing “making the best of it” mentality; life will feel easier! Now go forward your day and stop stressing - you have the tools to make great decisions when it matters.
