Do you sometimes feel so overwhelmed by options, you find yourself hesitating to make even basic decisions?
Click start to play today’s Spell It, where we focus on an important aspect of the ‘self’.
You might have a case of decision paralysis – a condition where you feel unable to reckon with the abundance of choices in front of you, which are all difficult to compare. When it happens often enough, it can worsen your decision-making abilities in the long run, according to a January 2023 report in US-based psychology news website Psychology Today.
To make confident decisions, you have to be mentally agile. Here are three things to keep in mind, according to the Psychology Today report, to help you become more decisive:
1. Don’t overdo it
Every decision, whether big or small, adds to the cognitive load on your brain. If you bite off more than you can chew, it can lead to decision fatigue – a process where your decision-making powers begin to falter. Some ways to stop this from happening include delegating or automating tasks that don’t require your specific input, talking to trusted loved ones or capable colleagues before making a decision, or making a ‘rough’ decision and then reviewing it later, when you feel more refreshed.
2. Don’t delay
Even though you might be tempted to put off making decisions, procrastination can backfire. In a December 2011 study published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, most smokers who delayed quitting were actually the least successful in kicking the habit. So, it’s worth making important decisions even if you don’t feel qualified or confident enough to make them. With practice and learned lessons, you’ll get better at making more successful choices – it’s the action, not thought, that predicts success or failure.
3. Consult your values
If you’re feeling conflicted at any point, it can put a wrench in your decision-making process. An April 2022 study in the Journal of Research in Personality found that ‘ego-aligning’ your decisions can make a difference. The term refers to your ability to know what’s expected of you and what feels like the ‘correct’ action in pressing situations. Individuals who have high levels of ego-alignment are likely to live better, less conflicted lives, while those with lower levels act in ways that are problematic.
Do you find it difficult to make decisions? Play today’s Spell It and let us know at games@gulfnews.com.
