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May 20, 2022 · Talk it out. The simple act of speaking out loud will help alleviate indecision and internal conflict. “If it feels right, voice your thoughts out loud to a friend or partner. Decisions can ...
- Kaitlin Vogel
- Overview
- Characteristics of Indecisive People
- Potential Causes of Being Indecisive
- Benefits of Being Less Indecisive
- 7 Ways to Be Less Indecisive
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Do you have trouble making decisions? Do you overanalyze your options for hours? Do you tend to second-guess the decisions you’ve made? These are some of the characteristics of indecisiveness.
Being indecisive means you struggle with making decisions and typically don’t have a lot of confidence in the decisions you’ve made, says Angeleena Francis, LMHC, executive director for AMFM Healthcare.
However, it’s important to remember that being indecisive doesn’t have to define you as a person. Indecisiveness is fairly common and there are steps you can take to overcome it.
The Psychology of Decision-Making Strategies
These are some of the potential causes of indecisiveness, according to Francis:
•Learned indecision: Indecision is not genetic, but it can be learned from parents, caregivers, or other influential figures in a child’s life.
•Adverse experiences: Feeling empowered to make decisions is achieved through key developmental milestones. Adverse childhood experiences that impact the child’s developmental process may contribute to indecisiveness later in life.
•Fear of making mistakes: Fear of making the wrong decision or the consequences of making a decision with a poor outcome may impede one's ability to commit.
•Mental health conditions: Indecision can be a symptom of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
What Leads to Bad Decision-Making
These are some of the potential benefits of being less indecisive:
•Better time management: Indecision can cause you to procrastinate, which can cost you a lot of time. Being less indecisive can help you spend less time on decision-making and more time on other tasks, such as following through on your decision.
•Greater productivity: Making decisions promptly can save time and help you be more productive.
•Increased self-confidence: Speaking up for yourself, stating your preferences, and making your own decisions can contribute to greater self-advocacy, which can be empowering and result in increased feelings of confidence and self-worth, according to Francis.
•Improved problem-solving skills: Learning to make decisions and dealing with the consequences that follow can help improve your problem-solving skills.
•Reduced anxiety: Overthinking or overanalyzing your decisions can lead to considerable anxiety. Being more decisive can help reduce your anxiety levels, says Francis.
Understand Your Goals and Values
Having a clear idea of what’s important to you and what you want to achieve can help you make decisions accordingly. Decision-making is easier when you have a clear vision of your goals. Spending some time in self-reflection or writing your thoughts in a journal can help you identify your goals and values.
Develop a Decision-Making Process
Francis recommends developing a decision-making process, such as writing out a list of pros and cons. If you like, you can give each factor on the list a score, depending on how important it is to you. At the end, you can tally up the scores for each option and see which one comes out ahead. This process can help you evaluate your options, gather any further information you need, and prioritize the factors that are most important to you. If any particular factor is a deal-breaker, you can eliminate that option immediately.
Practice Making Smaller Decisions
If bigger decisions feel overwhelming, you can practice by making smaller decisions and work your way up to the bigger ones. Making smaller decisions with relatively low stakes can help you build the confidence you need to make more important decisions. This process can also teach you how to trust your instincts and listen to your inner voice.
Sep 28, 2023 · Recognizing Indecisiveness. If you’re reading this article, you may wonder why you struggle with making decisions. Recognizing indecisiveness is the first step towards overcoming it. In this section, we’ll explore some signs and symptoms of indecision and provide a self-assessment to help you determine if you struggle. Signs and Symptoms
- Forget the fear. If you can’t make a decision, there’s a good chance that you’re afraid of something. Figure out what it is and write it down. Ask yourself what you’ll do if your fear comes to pass.
- Tune in to your emotions. Many people who have trouble making decisions tend to over-analyze. There comes a time when no matter how much information you have, or how much logic you’ve applied, the decision isn’t going to get any easier.
- Practice on small stuff. To become an expert at anything, you need to practice. Start making little decisions every day. Shoot for at least 10 decisions.
- Ask, ‘Will this matter 10 years from now?’ Sometimes, decisions seem much bigger than they really are. Maybe you’re struggling with a new car purchase.
- Too Many Choices. Have you ever stood in the candy or ice cream aisle and just felt completely overwhelmed by all the choices on offer? You know you are craving something sweet, but on this particular day, it isn’t a specific double chocolate chip mint leaf ice cream craving or an M&Ms craving.
- You Are a Perfectionist … and Scared of Failing. If you are a perfectionist, chances are you don’t ever want to fail, and you struggle with indecisiveness.
- Your Upbringing. Parental or your caretaker’s influence also has an impact on how well you make decisions. If your parents were overprotective, controlling, or overbearing, you may not have had an opportunity to make decisions independently when you were growing up.
- You’re a People-Pleaser. Yip, back to the double P word. Please-pleasing. When you people-please, you are always thinking about others. What would they want?
Jan 15, 2024 · Understanding Why You’re Indecisive: Why We Struggle to Make Decisions. To overcome indecisiveness, you first need to understand why you struggle with making choices in the first place. There are a few common reasons people have trouble deciding: Lack of confidence
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Apr 15, 2023 · 4. You're Struggling With Anxiety or Depression. When your mental health is on the fritz, and you're battling anxiety or depression, it's common to vacillate between choices, feelings, and even viewpoints. The more intense things become, the more reckless you may get — which is why working with a therapist, psychologist, or coach is helpful. 5.
