Simple Tools for Making Decisions
Over the past several weeks, we’ve unpacked some of the reasons making decisions can feel so overwhelming:
Not wanting to disappoint others
Worrying about making the “right” decision
Shutting down when faced with too many options
Not knowing when to trust your gut
Feeling the need to explain your choices
Putting so much pressure on the outcome
When all of that is swirling around in your mind, even small decisions can start to feel heavy.
Today, I want to share a few simple tools you can add to your toolbox to feel more confident when faced with making decisions.
Don’t Jump the Gun
It can be easy to start spiraling about a decision before it’s even something you actually need to decide.
Maybe you’ve applied for a job and lose sleep wondering whether you should take it — before you’ve even been offered the position. Maybe you feel anxious about a date before the person has even asked you out.
It’s helpful to be prepared. But weighing the pros and cons of something that hasn’t even happened yet is not a useful way to spend your energy.
Sometimes the most supportive thing you can do for yourself is simply wait until there is an actual decision to make.
Take the Pause
I have a rule that I’m not allowed to make decisions in the moment.
Instead, I take time to breathe, wrap my head around the situation, gather information, or simply let my nervous system settle before deciding.
When we feel rushed, we’re much more likely to choose what will make someone else happy or what we think is expected of us — often at our own expense.
Giving yourself permission to pause creates space for a more thoughtful decision.
Gather the Information
Part of what makes decisions feel overwhelming is the unknown.
When we feel uncertain, our brain tends to jump straight into the “what if” cycle. What if this goes wrong? What if I regret it? What if something better comes along?
Before making a decision, ask yourself if you actually have the information you need. Sometimes clarity comes simply from asking a few more questions or taking the time to understand your options.
Information can quiet a lot of unnecessary mental noise.
Trust Your Gut
Try not to let anxiety or self-doubt run the show.
After you’ve taken the pause and gathered the information you need, ask yourself:
If I knew I would be successful, and others would support my choice, what would I choose?
This question can be incredibly helpful in uncovering what you genuinely want, separate from fear or outside pressure.
Your answer may not always be comfortable, but it often reveals what feels most true.
Don’t Second-Guess Yourself
Once you’ve made your decision, have your own back.
Not everyone will understand your choice. Not everyone will agree with it. And that’s okay.
Sometimes even the right decision will feel uncomfortable — especially if it involves disappointing someone or stepping outside of what others expect from you.
Discomfort doesn’t necessarily mean you made the wrong choice.
It often means you made a brave one.
A Final Thought
There is rarely one perfect “right” decision and one terrible “wrong” one.
Most of the time, we are simply making the best decision we can with the information we have at the time.
And if you learn something new later and decide to go in a different direction, that doesn’t mean your original decision was a failure. It simply means you are adjusting as you grow.
If you’d like support navigating a decision in your own life, you’re always welcome to schedule a private session or a free consultation to explore working together.
And stay tuned for my upcoming Coaching Circle, Making Decisions Without Overthinking, where we’ll explore these ideas more deeply in a small, supportive group setting.