What is Decision Paralysis and How to Overcome it in 6 Simple Steps?

One in three Indians (33%) face decision paralysis, overwhelmed by choice overload. Imagine opening your favourite streaming platform and being baffled by dozens of thumbnails- now multiply that cognitive gridlock with every choice of yours in the whole day, from career moves to dinner plans. As per a report by HSBC, 69% of Indians find planning for the future harder with the increase in choices, 62% feel inadequate to make the right decisions, and 57% regret the opportunities they lost due to indecisiveness. It can happen to you daily or when making the most important decisions at work. From an executive-level employee to someone in a management position, decision paralysis is real. This blog will analyse why this happens, what decision paralysis is, and how to overcome it.

What is Decision Paralysis?

Let’s first see what is decision paralysis- If defined, it is the inability to make decisions due to a fear of failing not making the right decision or being overwhelmed by the choice overload.

Decision making paralysis can be common when you have to make a decision frequently. It often gets triggered when you are presented with many choices, and you get confused by the extent of not making a choice. This usually leaves you in a state of paralysis, where you think you are not making any progress and not moving ahead. Here are some of the astonishing figures that will leave you spellbound:

• 32% of the adults are overwhelmed by the usual daily decisions, like what they must eat or what they do.
• 70% of business leaders want to divert their decision-making power to robots because they feel it is too complicated.

This is a common trend; the more choices there are, the more we get confused, and the more decision paralysis creeps in.

Top Reasons for Decision Paralysis

Now, let us see the top reasons for decision paralysis. These are all related to psychology and based on the experiences you might have had in your life:

• Fear of making the wrong choice: One of the significant reasons for Decision Paralysis is regretting a bad decision. In anticipating the negative impacts of making the wrong decisions, you might miss what positive impacts your right decision could cause.

• Limitless choices: You might associate having too many options with freedom, but the more choices you have, the more overwhelming they become. The huge amount of data and information overload abruptly affects your decision-making and push you towards decision-fatigue.

• Searching for Perfectionism: Let's be real; there's nothing like a "perfect option", and the definition of "best" is subjective. So, getting stuck in the loop of finding the perfect answer can also lead to decision paralysis.

• Lack of self-esteem: When we lack confidence, every small decision seems like a big fate. Doubting your decisions makes it more tempting to seek validation outside, making the whole decision-making process dependent and more complicated.

• Underlying conditions: Sometimes decision paralysis comes with mental exhaustion and health problems like anxiety and depression. These conditions can amplify worries and create a general sense of getting overwhelmed.

How do you overcome Decision Paralysis in 6 Easy Steps

If you face difficulty in anything discussed above, let's see how to fix decision paralysis exactly.

1. Discover Decision Paralysis

The first step is to discover. If you face difficulty making decisions every day, then it is time for you to pause and think about it. The pressure of deciding makes it extremely difficult to analyse where to start. Here are a few of the symptoms if you are having decision paralysis:

• Being overwhelmed with your everyday tasks.
• Having low self-esteem and doubting your capabilities.
• Procrastination before starting anything.
• Not clearing our priorities.

2. Always prioritise your choices.

Not knowing where to start and how much time must be invested in any activity might be tiring. This is why you must start off by making a master list—write down everything you need to work on in a day. It can be as basic as picking up groceries; this way, your time is allocated to the activities that matter. Break down the priorities based on the importance and urgency of any task; if it still gets difficult for you, then try giving points to each task.

3. Automate your decision-making

Now imagine you have planned your entire day and time-blocked everything, but suddenly, a 2-hour meeting comes up. It will take you additional time to manually adjust your schedule. This is why you can automate it. You can use tools like reclaim.ai to automate your tasks in the calendar. The tool will make the adjustment and help you plan your day better.

4. Don't over-consult your decisions.

It is good to consult people when you are in a pickle, but consulting too many at a time will leave you with indecision. It is always best to have an opinion of your own and then listen to anyone else. However, never seek validation of your decision; keep an open mind when you are going for advice.

5. Take a break from deciding.

When you are feeling overwhelmed with all the decisions you need to make and decision paralysis comes out, it is best to have rest. If you are not making a decision and constantly going back and forth, it is best to take a break. Here is what you can do:

• Try going for a walk
• Practice guided meditation for peace of mind
• Try out some breathing exercises
• Try stretching or gentle yoga

6. Find peace with uncertainty.

Well, as easily as I have written this down, it is a little more difficult to actually preach it. But this is the harsh truth—nothing is certain, your decisions and the consequences you have with them. This is why you should make peace with the uncertainty. Not all of your decisions will work in the manner you want them to.

Anyone can face decision making paralysis at any time. Completing tasks, setting priorities, overthinking and dealing with daily stress can often lead to an endless loop of frustration. So, plan your day and make sure you don't overwhelm yourself. Take it one day at a time, and if you need external help, please don't hesitate to ask your friends or colleagues for advice.