Discover science-based strategies that can help you become more decisive.
KEY POINTS
- It takes mental energy to make decisions, even small ones.
- If the issue seems to be too many choices, limiting the number of options you consider could help make the decision easier.
- Proven strategies, such as brain-based coaching, can also be beneficial.
What to do About Indecisiveness:
Do you often feel torn between two or more equally appealing options? If you do, you’re not alone. Every day, we need to make numerous decisions, big and small. As a neuroscience expert with over 23 years of experience, I am here to help you overcome indecisiveness and become more decisive using my proprietary science-based strategies.
In this blog post, I will explore the causes of indecisiveness and share practical strategies for decision-making. I will share my insights and experiences from my practice to help you better understand and address indecision.
WHAT IS INDECISIVENESS?
Indecisiveness is the difficulty we have in making satisfying decisions. When we are indecisive, we evaluate and reevaluate the same information set. We may spend a long time weighing the pros and cons of every option, only to be paralyzed by them.
Sometimes indecision is caused by having too many options to consider, such as when browsing the supermarket shelves for salad dressing and there are at least 50 different bottles to choose from. Nevertheless, the inability to make decisions also concerns our upbringing and the society we belong to.
CAUSES
In my 23 years of practice, I have found that childhood trauma alters brain activation patterns involved in decision-making. In simple terms, young adults who experienced traumatic stress levels as children could not evaluate risks associated with options, which hampered their ability to make sound decisions later in life.
HOW TO DEAL WITH INDECISIVENESS
Occasional indecisiveness isn’t all that bad. If you are indecisive because you carefully weigh your options, you will likely avoid rushing into decisions you regret later. That being said, if you are uncertain in many situations, you may waste your mental energy on trivial matters.
Here are a few strategies to overcome indecisiveness that I recommend:
List the pros and cons of each option:
Determining what you might gain or lose in each case, especially for significant decisions, may help you narrow the choices or pick the one with the most benefits. It also enables you to visualize yourself in each scenario to determine which option you are more comfortable with.
Establish default options:
Take a pen and paper and list your go-to options for everyday decisions. This strategy automates some of your choices, and you know exactly what to expect. For instance, I have go-to menu items at restaurants I frequent. I order these default meals unless I crave something else.
Do your research:
If you consider an important decision, such as accepting a job in a different state, you should research your job responsibilities and expectations. You may also find out whether you’d be happy in the town or city where the job is. Try visiting the area and absorbing as much information as possible about the company and the city.
Set a deadline:
Give yourself a specific timeframe to make a decision. This will help you focus on the most critical factors and prevent you from getting stuck in a cycle of endless analysis.
Seek advice from trusted sources:
Sometimes, discussing your options with a friend, family member, or mentor can provide valuable insights and help clarify your thoughts. Be sure to seek advice from people who have your best interests in mind and can offer objective perspectives.
Embrace the possibility of change:
Understand that not all decisions are final, and it’s often possible to change your mind later on. Brain-Based coaching can help you recognize and learn how to adapt and adjust to new information or circumstances, which will take some pressure off and make decision-making less daunting.
Avoid the perfection trap:
Nobody is perfect at decision-making, and people make mistakes due to inherited biases or a lack of emotional intelligence. It is OK that others snicker behind your back when you fail at something or do poorly. Sometimes we have to fail to learn. Otherwise, you will perfect only one skill: AVOIDANCE.
Consider Brain-Based Coaching at MindLAB Neuroscience:
If you find that indecisiveness significantly impacts your life, seeking qualified help grounded in hard science, such as MindLab’s brain-based coaching and counseling, can provide valuable tools and techniques to help you make more confident decisions.
CONCLUSION
Indecisiveness and decision-making can be challenging obstacles to overcome. Still, by implementing these science-based strategies in my brain-based coaching program, you can improve your decision-making skills and become decisive. Remember that practice makes perfect; the more you work on making confident decisions and choices, the easier it will become.
If you’re interested in personalized guidance to help you overcome indecisiveness, wildly improve your decision-making skills, and are ready to experience a unique brain-based coaching solution, feel free to contact me, Dr. Sydney Ceruto, Founder of MindLAB Neuroscience, to learn more about my neuroscientific brain-based coaching and counseling services.
