Decisions, Decisions

With so many choices facing you every day, trying to make up your mind can leave you gnawing your nails to the bone. Ironically, it can also paralyse your decision-making ability.

‘You’d think having options would be a good thing, but having too many alternatives creates a lot of pressure to make that one perfect selection,’ explains Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox Of Choice: Why More is Less (HarperCollins Publishers). ‘All these choices diminish our confidence, so we end up regretting our decisions, or not making them at all.’

To put an end to all that, follow our five-point plan for choices you’ll be glad you made.

Dilemma Buster #1: Go With Your Gut Instinct	Everyone has a sixth sense and it can be incredibly valuable. ‘Intuition is the internal compass that lets you know if you’re headed toward a smart decision… or a fall,’ says life coach Marcia Reynolds, author of How To Outsmart Your Brain! (Covisioning). But combining your inner feelings with factual information is the real way to bulletproof your choice. ‘Before acting on impulse, check the facts and make sure your instinct is leading you in the right direction,’ explains Reynolds. ‘Because emotion and logic live in different parts of the brain, acting on a strong feeling is not always the most reliable way to make a good decision.’ So, even though you’re sure that new job or amazing flat is right for you, backing it up with research will confirm if your instinct is right. When Clarissa, 25, met Naomi, she thought her search for a housemate was over. ‘Naomi was perfect on paper,’ Clarissa says. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right, so she decided to do her homework first. ‘I called Naomi’s references, which were fine, but then I called her current address and talked to her flatmate, just to be safe. At first I felt a bit paranoid for prying into her life, but I’m glad I checked her out. She owed four months’ rent and had this unemployed boyfriend who pretty much lived there too,’ she recalls. ‘I’m sure she’s a nice person, but she would have been a terrible flatmate.’
Dilemma Buster #2: Decide Like a Man
Dilemma Buster #3: Ask The Right People For Advice
Dilemma Buster #4: Dump Your Pro/Con List
Dilemma Buster #5: Stop When You’re Happy

Author: Stephanie Booth