“When you take too long to decide, that intuitive wisdom may start to wither beneath the weight of societal norms, messages from an invalidating childhood home, and cultural conditioning. “In all of us is this inner core of knowing what the next best thing is to do,” Seide says. While thinking things through is obviously ideal, you don’t want to drag your feet when choosing a path. Richardson also recommends jotting down answers to three questions that can help you stay focused on the bigger picture: Does this align with my beliefs and values? How will this affect my future? What am I willing to sacrifice for this? Notice when you’re procrastinating. If you don’t have a ton of time on your hands, Seide says to use 75 percent of what you have available to educate yourself about your options, and the remaining 25 percent to actually sit with that data, analyze it, and consider how each choice feels for you. For major decisions such as a career change, moving, or ending a relationship, she notes it can be helpful to take anywhere from five to seven days, as these decisions will have a greater impact on the trajectory of your life.But also know how to make a tough decision fast. That’s why Richardson suggests using at least 24-48 hours as a baseline requirement for thinking through any tough decision, giving you time to reason with both your head and heart (and maybe even ask a trusted friend for advice). You get to marry that initial frenzy with more level-headed reasoning, giving you the best of both worlds.” “If you take two to three days to decide, potential drawbacks and benefits of your choice enter into your decision-making. “When the time comes to decide, things such as fear or excitement can dominate that initial period,” says Margaret Seide, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist in New York City. Make a tried-and-true pros and cons list.ĭoing so helps you avoid making difficult decisions based on impulse. But instead of breaking your lease that night, take a breath, go somewhere with decent air conditioning, and create a list of the pros and cons to help you make an action plan for how to move forward.” “After your HVAC has broken down for the 50th time, it's easy to decide you're done with your current home. “We are emotional beings and prone to making hasty decisions without thinking through the benefits and consequences of each scenario, Richardson says. While some choices can be made fast, life-altering ones like moving into a new home need a little more thought investment to help counteract the feelings that may be associated with the situation. Here’s what the experts say can help guide you in the right direction. The good news: regardless of your upbringing, there are plenty of things you can do now to help make tough decisions easier (and faster!).
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