Lack of the ability to make good decisions is the major reason of our procrastination as well as failure. Any decisions we make consciously or unconsciously determine the direction of our life.
We can learn to train our muscle of making good decisions:
1. The sooner, the better
Although there are some decisions may take longer time than others, the sooner we make a decision, the better it is. For example, if we decide to move to other country to live for a while, it may take longer time than deciding to go to a meeting or not. No matter what, over analysing paralysing often leads to procrastination. Making quick definite decisions is the antidote for procrastination. Hence, we can refer to other following points to make decisions sooner.
2. Refer to our criteria
We can set a list of criteria for decision making to consult to.
The criteria are compatible with your values, interests, abilities, purpose, your best self (your future self in 5 years), people around you, or society.
3. Do good research and refer to good references
Lots of us get influenced by opinions that make us make bad decisions. We need to make sure we consult right people.
- We need to identify the objectives or outcome we want to achieve from making the decisions. We then can brainstorm and come up with several possible choices by gaining different perspectives, gathering as many facts and as much information we can to assess your options (people you trust, people who are successful)
- Refer to the good past experience if the situation is similar to the past situations where we made good decisions, if not we should avoid using similar patterns of the past.
4. Make a decision and stick to it
Sometimes the decisions make us feel fear because of the changes we need to make even though we know if we make them happen, the results would be good; we should make the decisions and stick to them.
Instead of wondering around and being worried, we should make the decisions sooner.
Stop putting it off, make that decision and most importantly, stick to it.
