Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Decision making

Some people can feel paralyzed by the need to make decisions. The decisions can be as mundane as what outfit I am going to wear or as important as who we should hire and fire. Some decisions take more time than others to make, and we all know time is valuable. 

For many, everyday decisions can be worrisome. The problem is these decisions tend to be equally attractive or similar. Lunch decisions can be difficult when faced with choosing between two equally healthy options like salad or fish. However, their differences can also be attractive. 

This first method can make some of these mundane decisions easier and quicker. You can use habits to take care of these routine decisions. Perhaps deciding salad is your preferred lunch takes away that decision. Preparing wardrobe decisions for a week every Sunday is a habit that saves many minutes every day. Breakfast choices can also be a habit. Perhaps cereal with fruit on odd days and eggs on even days. Whatever you do is fine as long as you are making a habit and routine to help with decision-making. 

Now we come to the decisions that cannot be decided by habit or routine. These are often important decisions at work but can equally be important life decisions. Leadership teams tend to mull over these decisions for weeks, excessively weighing pros and cons, soliciting way too many opinions, and collecting more and more data while hoping for an answer to emerge. 

The best decision-making method is to make a time restraint. You can even use a timer. If you are in a work situation where everything has been discussed, choices are all equally attractive, and everything is vetted, then simply decide. Tell your committee, “We know all the parameters, let’s take 15 minutes and decide the way to go.”

If you have decisions to make in your personal life, write them down and give yourself a set amount of time. This will help reduce your anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. 

All in all, the best thing to do is just make a decision and move forward. The time you save by not deliberating pointlessly will pay massive dividends in productivity and reduce anxiety. 

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO