Become More Decisive With These 4 Simple Tips

Do you have issues with being indecisive? We often see people who are decisive and admire them for that. They know who they are and they know what they want. Why can’t we be like that? We’re so full of doubt and hesitation that we waste time trying to make a decision. Yes, it can be difficult to be a decisive person, especially now that there are so many options for us. From our clothes to what we eat or what movie we’re going to watch--we’re bombarded by so many choices every day. 

For instances where we need to make really tough decisions, being indecisive can be costly. For example, you may be presented with several opportunities for a job, but you can’t make up your mind about which one to choose. You may end up losing your chance at a great company. If you’re in business, you can’t be indecisive because you’re going to waste time and time equates to money. 

You also have to consider the people who are waiting for you to make a decision. Your indecisiveness can frustrate others, especially the impatient ones. As a consequence, you will feel more stressed and pressured, knowing that many people are waiting for you to make up your mind. If you can relate to these scenarios, then it’s time to know how to stop being indecisive. Read on as we share with you four steps in decision-making. 

Stop Being Afraid

If you’re too scared to face the consequences of your decisions, nothing will happen to your life. It will be uninteresting, unexciting, and unfulfilling. Most of the time, the source of our indecisiveness is because we’re afraid, and that fear is holding us back from making bold moves. 

All of the decisions we make will result in change. The forces of change can be daunting, but why not think of it as something exciting instead? It would be best if you stopped being afraid because your fear can consume you. It can paralyze you to the point that you won’t experience any personal growth. 

It’s time to be more open to change. Welcome it instead of always being fearful. Remember that life is full of surprises, and so you might as well embrace it as opposed to worrying about it. You may not have control of many things in life, but you have full control over how you see it. 

Don’t Overthink

Spending so much time thinking will not really help you arrive at a better decision. Everyone has uncertainties when it comes to their choices. But that’s the point--choices have to be made. Decisive people can be just as nervous or uncertain as everybody else. The difference is that they are willing to decide. 

But what if you decide on something and it turns out wrong? Don’t worry about it. You have to learn to let go and to forgive yourself. Change your perspective because nothing will happen if you keep on blaming yourself. Instead, you can learn from this poor decision. Take the lessons you can get out of it so that you can make better decisions in the future. 

Deciding on something, even if it’s not the right decision, is always much better than not deciding at all. No matter what it is, it will take you somewhere. If you don’t choose, you’ll stay where you are, and you’ll stagnate.

Visualize The Results

Use visualization when you’re trying to figure out what to do. For every option you have, spend some time to imagine what the results will be if you choose it. Remember not to overthink and overanalyze, though. Spend enough time to visualize so you’ll know the advantages and disadvantages of each option. 

If it helps, list out the outcomes you expect from each decision on a piece of paper. This process will make it even easier to figure out which choice is the best one for you and your circumstance. When you practice this method, you will develop the skill of decision-making. 

Practice Making Small Decisions

The best way for you to get better at anything is to practice it. So, if you want to make decisions faster and better, make small decisions every day. Whenever you need to decide on something, give yourself a specific time limit. You have to make a decision within that time frame and stick to it.

Five to ten minutes will give you sufficient time to make a choice. Don’t go beyond that. You can then reduce the time as you go along. Practice this with anything--what you’ll wear, what kind of coffee you want, when you’ll go on a date with your significant other, what you’ll order for dinner, and so on. 

Final Thoughts

When you push yourself to make decisions, you’ll also get to know more about yourself. You will know what it is that you like and don’t like. When you know your preferences, it’s going to be much easier to make decisions in the future. Your decisiveness will give you more control of your life. It will affect you in many positive ways, and the people around you will also benefit from your decisiveness, especially if you’re in a leadership role. 

Remember that you don’t have to make things perfect, so don’t overthink your decisions. Perfectionism, like fear, will only paralyze you. You’ll be so caught up with the idea of making things perfect that you’ll be too afraid to start. So, whenever you’re feeling intimidated by making a decision, keep in mind that the important thing here is to move forward. Anything you have to change can be adjusted along the way. Now, go out, make decisions, and start achieving!