We make decisions every day. Some are as simple as, “What do you want for dinner?” And others are life changing like, “What should I major in?” if you want to make good decisions, you need to be able to weigh your choices and the possible outcomes.
No matter what you have to decide, the pressure that comes along with having to make a commitment to someone or something can be overwhelming. And for many, the tremendous pressure that comes with finalizing a decision can lead to a total shut down or even worse, making hasty decisions that you regret.
If you are one of those people that can’t make up your mind, you are not alone. Luckily, we’ve done our homework, and we’ve come up with some hacks to help you improve your decision-making skills.
Don’t Overcompensate
A lot of times we think we know what we want, so we turn a blind eye to the obvious. Simply put, sometimes being too confident can actually make you bias. This leads to bad choices.
One way to challenge your certainty is to throw in a shadow of a doubt. This way, you start to eliminate your bias. Then, revisit the issue you have to decide upon, and then look at all the possible outcomes. List a few.
Now, ask yourself, “What outcome is most likely?” When you eliminate bias and overcompensation, you can make a much more definite decision.
Do Your Research
Not every decision is as easy as 1,2,3. Sometimes you have to do your homework. You can’t just point to a map and say,” I want to live there.” And, you can just say, that place looks beautiful in the pictures online. You need to research taxes, neighborhoods, school systems, job market, etc. if you’re looking at one of those Brampton townhomes.
The same can be said about any major life decision. You need to do your homework and gather the facts. Then you can weigh them against each other and make the best choice.
Narrow Your Options
Too much too choose from can lead to a shutdown. After you’ve done your homework, narrow things down to a few choices. It’s much easier to look at things when you are not getting lost in the options.
Get Educated Opinions
With your small list, start seeking the opinions of people you trust. You may have overlooked some critical facts. Just make sure you are open to constructive feedback. Don’t expect the people you seek out to tell you how fantastic your ideas are.
o say but that you are willing to accept it as well. There’s no saying you have to agree, but if you ask, you at least have to listen.
It’s OK to Rethink
After you’ve laid everything out and made a choice, it’s OK to change your mind. Sometimes the unexpected creeps up. Acknowledge the early signs that you made the wrong choice before it turns into a bad decision.
It’s easy to correct a small mistake. It’s much harder to clean up if you keep going down a path that you don’t feel is right for you.
Conclusion
If you want to grow into someone who makes good choices, you have to acknowledge outcomes. You have to be honest with yourself—even if you don’t like what you are hearing.
A lot of times, people make decisions based on what they hope the outcome will be. More often than not, this leads to bad decisions. The easiest way to make good choices is to be objective. It’s hard, but in the long run, it’s worth it.