Who wants to be more confident in the decisions you make?
On a daily basis, the number of decisions we have to make is really amazing once you think about it. Consider every decision you make from the time you wake up until the time you are ready to work…that’s only a small portion of your day!
Some decisions are harder to make than others, either because we don’t have enough information or because we’ve placed a high value on making the right decision.
I remember fretting about which smartphone I should buy (the number of choices is really overwhelming). When I finally selected my Android device, five weeks later a newer version of my phone was released. What sucked for me was that I was past the 30-day exchange/returns period so even if I wanted to newer version it was too late.
So whether you’re faced with a decision related to your smartphone (e.g. iPhone or Samsung, should I buy this app, upgrade or get that accessory) or some other life decision, how can you accept the decisions you make without second-guessing yourself?
Introducing: The Best Darn Resource on Decision-Making
I’ve searched far and wide to find resources to help simplify the decision-making process. There are over 40 links on this page…definitely not something you can digest – or want to digest – in one sitting. I’d recommend bookmarking this page so that you can easily return to it later.
How you consume the information is up to you. Perhaps, you want to consume it chapter-by-chapter, or perhaps you want to read an article from each chapter right now. Or maybe there’s a particular chapter that interests you more than others. Whatever floats your boat.
The links directly below will jump you to that particular chapter without refreshing the page or taking you to another page.
- Chapter 1: Assess Who/Where You Are
- Chapter 2: Understand What Makes it Difficult
- Chapter 3: Decision-Making Techniques/Frameworks
- Chapter 4: Trick Your Brain
- Chapter 5: How to Trust Your Decisions
- Bonus Chapter: More Decision-Making Tips
If you have a great article to add to this guide, tell me about it here.
Chapter 1: Assess Who/Where You Are
Who are you? A little self-assessment never hurt anyone. Assessing how you currently feel about your decision-making abilities is the first step to no longer second-guessing your decisions.
- Assess your current decision-making skills | How Good Is Your Decision-Making? {Mind Tools}
- Satisficers tend to be happier than Maximizers | When Making Decisions, Are You a Satisficer or a Maximizer? {Real Simple}
- Men rush while women tend to dwell | How Gender Differences Make Decision-Making Difficulties {Psychology Today}
- Make plans and decisions that honor your values | What Are Your Values? {Mind Tools}
- Most remarkable people are people of action | The Decision to be Remarkable {Chris Guillebeau}
- [Big decisions] requires facing daunting — but transient — discomfort | Stop Rationalizing and Make Hard Decisions {Tim Ferriss}
Chapter 2: Understand What Makes it Difficult
I've beat myself up plenty of times when a decision doesn't work out how I expected. Which only leads to analysis-paralysis on future decisions because I want to get it right the next time. The articles below explore those things that cause us to delay making decisions.
- We don’t have any more energy to make good decisions | Understanding the Dangers of “Ego-Depletion” {Dan Ariely}
- Overestimating the impact of future events | Tough Choices {Behance}
- You want to make everyone happy | How Living Clutter-free Will Make You a Better Decision Maker {LifeHack}
- You cannot have certainty and you don't need it | Fretting Over Decisions {Psychology Today}
If you have a great article to add to this guide, tell me about it here.
Chapter 3: Decision-Making Techniques/Frameworks
Having a framework or process to arrive at the best decisions doesn't have to be complicated. These articles explore some different approaches you can try. One process may resonate more with you. Check them out and see if you can adapt them into a process that works for you.
- Establish context as quickly as possible | Lessons from Improv #4 {Behance}
- Use existing information on hand to make decisions | Eight Decision Making Techniques {LifeHack}
- Our brains are flawed instruments | A 4-Step Process for Making Better Decisions {Michael Hyatt}
- Start at the end result and work backward | 5 Whys {Mind Tools}
- Most decisions don’t require extensive research | Don’t Fall Into “Decision Quicksand.” {Happiness Project}
- Make a decision, and if it’s the wrong one, make another one | The One Essential Habit of Every Effective Leader {Michael Hyatt}
- Dealing with small [decisions] immediately | Stop Dithering {LifeHack}
- Make a decision based on two or three of the most important factors | Advanced Techniques to End Decision-Making Procrastination {Psychology Today}
- It probably doesn't matter which idea you pick | How to Make Decisions {Chris Guillebeau}
Chapter 4: Trick Your Brain
Can decision-making be hacked? Check out these articles for clever ways to make the decision-making process easier.
- Automate as much decision-making as possible | The Choice-Minimal Lifestyle {Tim Ferriss}
- Don’t sweat the small stuff | Reducing Decisions to Focus Better {Chris Guillebeau}
- Being right vs. being happy | The Secret to Making Life Decisions With Too Many Options {Zen Habits}
- Fear often indicates that an opportunity is ideal for you | Fear vs. Intuition {Marie Forleo}
- The stronger people's urge to pee, the better they were at controlling their impulses | Needing to Pee Enhances Decision Making…Really {Psychology Today}
- Force action through a self-imposed deadline | 5 Tips for Lightning-Fast Decision Making {LifeHack}
- The conscious mind should be trusted only with simple decisions | ‘Sleeping on it' Best for Complex Decisions {LifeHack}
- Waiting empowers you to regain your self-control and make a more informed decision | The Briefcase Rule {Psychology Today}
- Turn off the chatter | The Secret To Finding Clarity Without Speaking A Word {Anne Samoilov}
Chapter 5: How to Trust Your Decisions (After All's Said & Done)
You've made the decision. Now what? If you're struggling with accepting your decision or being happy with the choices you've made, this is the section for you.
- Claim ownership of your choices | How to Make the Right Choice {LifeHack}
- If your future happiness wasn’t dependent on your decision, which way would you go? | 5 Ways to Stop Second Guessing Yourself {LifeHack}
- Transform the way you tell the story of your past | How to Stop Regretting Decisions {Martha Beck}
- Live your own life | A Short Note on Bridge Jumping {Chris Guillebeau}
Bonus Chapter: More Decision-Making Tips
Some additional decision-making goodies that I couldn't fit anywhere above but wanted to still share with you.
- The only bad decision is indecision, followed by inaction | The Only Bad Decision Is Indecision {Jonathan Fields}
- Done means you're building momentum | “Done!” {37Signals} |
- That damn gut [has] a wealth to share with you if you’d just fucking listen | That Damn Gut {Erika Napoletano}
- We freeze up hoping that everything will “magically” take care of itself | How to Move Ahead When “Everything Sucks” {Marie Forleo}
- Walking out helps you create space for something else… | The Power of Walking Out {Nathalie Lussier}
- “My wife makes fun of how routinized I’ve become” | Obama’s Way {Vanity Fair}
- Combine reason and intuition to make decisions you can live with | Don’t Decide Until Decision Time {Behance}
- Seek out a neutral expert rather than polling friends | How to Make Good Decisions {Real Simple}
If you have a great article to add to this guide, tell me about it here.
Image: Fashion woman on a car by olly18