7 Top Tips for Making Decisions
1. ACCEPT THAT SOME DECISIONS TAKE TIME
We must not dwell on decision making or try to force it when we look at something for the first time. If we’re not sure what the decision is, it goes in the Not Sure category so our subconscious brain can gather more information from our endless filing cabinet of memories. So be kind to yourself – and patient.
2. LEARN FROM YOUR PAST…….
……. BUT don’t let it define your present or allow a fear of the future to drive your decisions in the present.
Your PAST EXPERIENCES will affect your FUTURE EXPECTATIONS and therefore influence your PRESENT DECISIONS if you don’t focus on YOUR FUTURE GOALS
3. IRRATIONAL ESCALATION OF COMMITMENT
This is where, even when we expect or realise that any given decision will have a negative outcome, we continue to ignore it because of all the ‘costs’ we’ve already invested in keeping those things in our clutter.
Logic, reason and need go out the window. The guilt and fear of realising you didn’t NEED any of it causes you to become even more determined to find a reason to keep it, focus on the fact you WANT it irrespective of NEED, convince yourself you will use it, or invest more time gathering more information. As a result, your commitment to keeping things even though you don’t NEED them and won’t USE them in the near future increases.
4. 7 ACTION FOCUSED CATEGORIES
By giving yourself 7 Action Focused Categories, you move the decision making away from the emotional Limbic System part of your brain and towards the Pre-Frontal Cortex which is responsible for logic and reason.
The Not Sure category ensures you give yourself the time you need to make a realistic decision without forgetting the things that you’re not sure about.
5. BIASES – Take 5
When you review your Not Sure category, take 5 minutes to check whether you have any biases going on with your decisions. e.g. Cognitive bias, Belief bias, Hindsight bias, Omission bias, Confirmation bias, Status Quo bias, Availability bias etc. They cause you to make assumptions or justifications for keeping things rather than allowing your Pre-Frontal Cortex to make a realistic decision based on NEED.
6. FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
How do you know you need a bike that you find in your clutter unless you know you’re going to NEED a bike to live your Best Life? Is a bike on your Worksheet 7? Think about how you want your Clutter Free Goal and Life to be. Capture it on your LIFE Timeline. Focus on what you’ll be able to do WITHOUT the clutter that you can’t do now WITH the clutter. This will help you focus on the future.
7. 30 MINUTES
Your brain gives up making decisions after 30 minutes, so limit your decision-making time to 30 minutes.
BONUS – RECORD THE SUCCESSES
… in your Success / Gratitude Journal when you know you’ve made a REALISTIC decision and let go of something you know you don’t NEED in the near future.
If you struggle with making decisions, find out how Clare can help you in her free help centre: https://www.clutterclearing.net/clares-help-centre/
