Decisions become easier when you do these three simple things

Do you find it difficult to make decisions? Can the fear of making the wrong decision paralyze you so you delay doing anything at all?

Maybe you get bogged down in pro and con lists. And what happens if there’s an equal number of them?

You’ve heard about a gut instinct but struggle to trust yours and wonder if you even have one.

If you’re an introvert, HSP, or Type B personality, you probably take longer to make decisions. You might second guess yourself and spend a lot of time and energy fretting over what to do.

If you’re a person who avoids conflict or a people pleaser, you cringe at the thought of making a decision that rubs people the wrong way.

As a person who struggled her whole life with making decisions, I noticed they became easier when I made certain changes.

Here are the three simple ways to eliminate all the stress around making decisions.

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1. Embrace minimalism

When you get rid of the stuff you don’t need or use, decisions become easier because you have fewer options to choose from. Sounds obvious, right?

Start by decluttering your house and car. This might sound overwhelming and won’t happen overnight.

Organize a drawer and reward yourself. Then, move on to your closet.

When you declutter your wardrobe, you have fewer items to choose from. You’re left with only the items you love and that fit, so the decision becomes more pleasant.

You’ve created a stress-free morning by simplifying your decisions about what to wear that day.

After the house and car, work on decluttering other aspects of your life. Say no to things that stress you out and set boundaries to protect your time.

This will help clear your head from internal chaos. Instead of reacting and feeling overwhelmed, you’ll be calm and empowered.

Making decisions from a clear and cool head is so much easier than the alternative. And the decisions you make will be more authentic because they’re coming from a place of peace.

Rather than people pleasing, you’re making decisions that are best for you and your family.

2. Practice patience

A little known fact about decisions is that they sometimes make themselves. Waiting before jumping in with both feet can have positive results.

Now, this is not an excuse for procrastination or paralysis.

But if you avoid making a rash decision and wait a beat, you might be surprised at the outcome. If you feel unsure and wait before taking action, the issue might resolve itself.

One year, my daughter struggled with a difficult classmate who smothered and manipulated her.

During the summer, we prayed for God to work on this girl’s heart and help my daughter set appropriate boundaries. On the first day of school, I waited to hear how things went.

“She moved!” my daughter exclaimed.

God can work in ways we never even imagine with our limited scope of reference. He sees the whole picture while we just see our tiny corner.

Again, there’s a difference between passivity and patience. Or avoidance and caution.

Putting off decision-making because you’re paralyzed with fear is not what we’re talking about here.

3. Set a deadline for making decisions

This might sound contradictory to the previous point, but hear me out. If your problem is procrastination rather than patience, you need some accountability.

Giving yourself a deadline to make a decision is different than taking impulsive action. Make your decision by a certain hour or day, depending on the urgency of the situation.

Giving yourself a deadline to make a decision is different than impulsive action. Click To Tweet

Sometimes, as in #2 above, the issue will have been resolved before the deadline. Or you will have given yourself enough time to experience peace about your decision.

You might fear making the wrong decision if you don’t brood over it endlessly. But this is rarely the case.

Perhaps it’s your fear of changing your mind that’s putting so much pressure on your decision-making process. But very few decisions are irrevocable.

Maybe you’re too hard on yourself and feel that once a decision is made there’s no going back.

How about giving yourself a little grace? Even big decisions like a move can be reversed if necessary. You’re rarely stuck with a decision you made just because you made it.

Have the self-compassion to say we’ll try it this way for now. And if it doesn’t work out we can redirect or even go back to the old way.

If you refuse to make a decision, chances are you won’t have to change. But ask yourself if that’s what’s best for you.