Even if you’ve only got two decisions, write them down. This will allow you to start filling in details about each decision, creating a little flow chart that will help you decide. As you write, try to come up with alternative possibilities as well. If it seems like you’ve only got two choices, try to come up with out-of-the-box alternatives as well.
Consider the benefits in and of themselves, as well as side benefits. If you’re trying to decide what college you want to attend, it’s good to consider benefits about one college offering internships to all students, as well as the reputation for fun. Both things are important considerations.
Consider a variety of cons, like time commitments, difficulty, and other aspects of the choice. Try to be realistic. If you’re trying to pick a career path, it’s true that being a novelist could make you a millionaire, but it’s rare to crack through to that millionaire success level.
If you’re trying to decide what you want to make for dinner, and all you’ve got in the cabinet is canned tuna and Ramen noodles, think about all the other options you’ve got. You could go out to eat. You could run to the store really quickly. You could call a friend and see what they’re having. Don’t limit yourself.
Friends and relatives typically enjoy being consulted as experts. People are almost always willing to help you come to a decision, or weigh your options. Don’t expect an answer, but just try to talk it out together. Instead of saying, “What should I do?” say something like, “What’s the best way tot think about this?” or “How would you think about this?” It’s ultimately your decision to make.
If you’re trying to decide where you want to go to college, or what you want to do for a particular school project, talk to one of your teachers. They’ll help you think about the options from an informed perspective. Experts don’t have to be experts at the thing you’re talking about. Look at some role models, or experts at life. How would Slash handle your relationship problem? What would Lady Gaga say to the bully who’s messing with you?
It’s important to avoid what’s called “groupthink. " Sometimes, you can only see the popular or the common solutions to problems, and it keeps you from coming up with creative alternatives. It’s important to look into your solutions yourself and keep other people’s opinions at a slight distance. [4] X Research source
Even things as small as deciding what to wear benefit from a little visualizing. Try on each dress. Take pictures and send them off to a particular friend to help make the choice.
Eliminate any impossible choices. If the difficulty of a particular task is so great its risks outweigh its rewards, cross it out. It might be awesome to be a movie star, but it might be too difficult to take seriously as an option. Cross out any unattractive options from the list. If you just can’t stomach the idea of attending a particular school, or of moving to a particular place, then cross it off the list. Don’t consider something just because it has an upside. If you don’t like it, don’t do it.
What needs to happen first? try to prioritize the most important decisions and choices to put them up front. Think about how best to use your time wisely. If you’re trying to decide how to fill the afternoon, something like “start rebuilding the engine” might be a little ambitious for the next three hours, or it might be a great way to spend the time.
Try this exercise: Describe the decision you’ve got to make, as if you were someone else looking at the situation objectively. What would you have to say to the person trying to make the choice?
The next day, write down which seems the best fit. If it still sounds good in the morning, go with it. Sometimes your subconscious works out the details while sleeping!
