Do you find yourself spending too much time pondering and not enough time getting things done? Overthinking is common, especially when making decisions. Overthinking wastes time and lowers your confidence.
The most successful people make decisions quickly and stick with them. The less successful take too long to decide and quickly change their minds afterward. You might think that you are being responsible and cautious by taking your time to decide, but you are shooting yourself in the foot. There is no evidence to suggest that ruminating excessively on a decision results in a better outcome.
Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.
It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.
I have a program that can help you to discover what is holding you back from achieving your goals as well as help you set an attainable goal related to where you are in your life and where you are trying to be.
This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.
You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.
You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Visit the site and read through the program description.
Make Up Your Mind and Get on With Your Life
List the Advantages and Disadvantages
Write them down. There is something magical about taking pen to paper when making decisions. By the time you are done, you will have a better idea of the right direction to take.
Be Aware of Your Core Values
Decisions are more quickly and easily made when you know your core values. When you consider a choice, test it against your core values. Often, these choices are not the easiest, but are in your best interests.
Remember That You Can Always Change Your Mind
There are few, if any, decisions you must stick with until your funeral. Just knowing that you can change your mind later can give you the comfort needed to decide. It is not possible to predict the future with 100% accuracy anyway.
Avoid Paralysis by Analysis
Overanalyzing does not lead to better results. It leads to inactivity and confusion. The Special Forces have a rule that you only need to be 70% certain to act. You might not be in the military, but the same general concept applies.
- Often, the window of opportunity closes before the last 30% of the information can be gathered.
Think Both Short-Term and Long-Term
Ideally, an option exists that satisfies both criteria. Ask yourself if you will be happy with your decision in 15 minutes and in 15 years. Any decision that meets both requirements is a great decision.
Stay Busy
Those that overthink often have the luxury of too much free time. Busy people make decisions quicker because they do not have the time to brood over every decision. Be more active in general. You will find it easier to make decisions in a timely fashion. Exercise is one way to stay busy. You do not overthink when your body is tired.
Use Your Experience to Your Advantage
You have made plenty of poor choices over the years. It would be a shame to allow them to go to waste. Consider whether you have been in a similar situation in the past. You might gain some great insight.
Use a Timer to Make Decisions
Most decisions do not require weeks, or even days, to make. A couple of hours is more than sufficient most of the time. Use a timer and put some focus on the issue. When you hear the alarm, it is time to decide. A timer is an effective way to narrow your focus.
A Good Decision Now Beats a Great Decision Later
What are you waiting for? Success is more about making decent decisions and working hard than it is about making awesome decisions. Avoid overestimating the value of perfection and underestimating the value of activity.
Avoid overanalyzing every little decision. You are limiting your results in life if you spend too much time making decisions. Be clear on your values and consider using a timer. You do not make better decisions by overthinking them. You just waste time. Use that time to execute your decisions. You will be more successful.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 45-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program.
P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
If you have an Amazon Kindle account, there are different books at Amazon – Michael W (author)
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
