6 strategies for making decisions in life

When facing challenges and overcoming life or professional crises, not everything is based on effort or discipline; A good part of what allows us to adapt correctly to the demands of the environment has to do with learn to make decisions.

Given this, Psychology has a lot to say: there are worse and better ways to choose between the options that we have at our disposal, and to do it in an adequate way, it is important to learn certain patterns of behavior and management of thoughts and emotions.

• Related article: "Self-knowledge: definition and 8 tips to improve it"

6 strategies to learn to make better decisions in life

Here are some key ideas worth considering when approaching important decision-making from a constructive, goal-focused mindset.

1. Define your options well

Before taking a decision, it is important that we make sure that, in the first place, this task of choosing is made up of clear and concrete options, rather than relying on generalities and fuzzy wishes. Otherwise, you will be exposing yourself to the constant frustration of not knowing what to do at the same time that you are not very clear between what you are supposed to choose.

Having blurry and constantly changing alternatives without you realizing it is an insurmountable obstacle that you don't It will let you make a decision consistently, and worse still, it will not even allow you to learn from your mistakes.

Therefore, first of all worry about specify the options before which you should position yourself and rip off a decision.

2. Assume a certain degree of uncertainty

We are not talking about learning to make good decisions, or even learning to choose, but about developing the necessary skills to know how to choose from an adequate, reasonable position, creating the situations so that the risk of failure is relatively small and so that those of success are enlarge.

In fact, achieving it happens by being aware at all times that it is impossible to learn to be correct always or almost always, and that uncertainty and lack of information are a necessary element of the decision-making process.

3. Take stock of your strengths and weaknesses

To know how to “measure your strength” when faced with a challenge, it is important to have a complete and nuanced vision of what you can and cannot do. In this sense, it is very useful to make a SWOT matrix, in which you make a brief list of your strengths, your weaknesses, your risks and your opportunities in relation to a specific mission.

This SWOT analysis must be focused on the here and now, that is, it has to be based on the real I, in which you know exists in the present, and not in an idealized self or in the potential abilities that you think you can develop with a few days of learning or training. Spending about five minutes on this is enough.

• You may be interested in: "The 'paralysis of analysis'; when overthinking it becomes a problem "

4. Make an estimate of your ability to learn

Although the SWOT analysis was focused on the present, it is still true that you surely have the ability to increase your chances of success if you prepare yourself adequately to face a challenge with which you have relatively little experience.

So if you doubt how you should approach a project or a challenge that is relatively new to you (or if you doubt whether you should try to undertake it in the first place), stop at also think about what gives you time to learn or train in the time you have, and about whether you think you have the skills and resources to make it work well.

5. Take into account your emotional state when making the decision

At a certain point, you must choose one of the options; After that phase, it is important that you maintain consistency and act accordingly, so that if you put that decision aside, it is only because you see that you have made a mistake and that this strategy or tactic is not works.

However, try that that moment does not coincide with a situation in which you notice that your emotions overwhelm you, because they can distort too much your perspective on what happens. Clearly, time is limited and in certain cases you won't be able to wait indefinitely for you to calm down totally, but find a balance between the minutes or hours you have to decide and your state emotional.

6. Beware of analysis paralysis

So far we have focused on tasks based on introspection, on reflection. But while these are useful and necessary if there is a lot at stake in your decision, you must bear in mind that this “thinking” phase can become a trap.

Some people do not decide to take the step that goes from words to deeds because they are afraid of exposing themselves to failure., so they always remain in the same stage, turning their doubts, their ideas, etc. This is a phenomenon known as analysis paralysis: the task of reflecting before doing something goes from being a tool to overcome a challenge, to being an excuse not to tackle it.

Therefore, it is important that you know how to detect that point where if you continue to limit yourself to thinking, you are self-sabotaging.

Do you want to have psychological assistance?

If you are interested in having professional psychological support to face periods of crisis, to learn to manage your responsibilities or to correctly manage your emotions before a project, I invite you to get in touch with U.S.

On Psychoconsulting We work serving individuals and companies both in face-to-face sessions (in Barcelona) and through online therapy.