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What is the cure for someone who has trouble making decisions? IS there a fix for that?
It's getting worse, the older I get. I suppose it's because time is shorter, so decisions are more important?
Has anyone overcome this affliction? I would add that I tend to research and gather a lot of facts. I'm thinking it's a type of OCD and muddies the waters?
Any thoughts? I'd like to be more carefree and spend less time worrying and fretting over decisions. Example: I researched and checked out blenders a year ago; I did that for 2 or more months. I ended up not getting one. Too many choices.
Jeez, we must share the same genes... coffee makers, paint colors, tv, chairs, hifi gear... oh god, the hifi gear - I must've spent years deciding on those, started out wanting a decent boom box & I l studied a lot & bought some great high end gear a few years later that I rarely listen to any more, getting ready to sell it now mostly.
I do get frustrated & at a certain point just make myself say "That's enough!" & just start moving on it. I think it's a combination of trying to control my environment & perfectionism or something like that that leads to analysis paralysis. I'm painting some rooms now & trying to decide on what shade of gray - there are hundreds - was overwhelming. I finally decided to concentrate on the 8 most popular & painted 6 samples on my walls & picked 3. I just used the brand most often mentioned by pros, not a bad shortcut for other decisions if available I think.
My mind & approach to life & things is definitely analytical & logical as opposed to emotional or passionate & so I see & evaluate things that way. But at some point I catch myself just tumbling down a bunny hole of more & more info & I have to break & move on. I've discovered that just finding out some basic things about quality & function + whatever current needs I have should suffice. But I do have to force myself to act.
If you have trouble selecting toothpaste even since it's a $2-$4 decision that will affect you for maybe a month if you made the wrong choice, you have a problem that would benefit from seeking help from a mental healthcare professional.
Buy a tube of toothpaste. If you don't like it, buy another one and throw the first one away!
I have had trouble with toothpaste before. Have you ever looked at the packaging? It would take hours to tease out the differences between the 20 types and 8 brands on the shelf. The crazy part is that they aren't really that many options, the manufacturers are only interested in the appearance of options, which actually makes consumers more indecisive and confused, and creates more opportunities for decision fatigue (see article).
There is a gentlemen I know that has trouble with decisions on acquiring items because he thinks about the entire life of the purchase. He thinks about dealing the with styrofoam packaging, how easy the item is to fix, how well it will travel, what it is made out of, what landfill it might end up in. When you begin to think like this, you realize how poorly designed and wasteful most products are. Some people can have blinders on and not care. Some people are far more conscientious, and that is a trait that should be encouraged and respected.
BPollen: I am right there with you. And it has gotten ALOT worse as I age. I think it's because there are too many choices for everything these days. And the ability to research everything via the internet has complicated even the simplest decisions. I also, as a retiree, like to save money on stuff, so I look and look before buying anything. Thank goodness I never wanted a blender.
My mother used to tell me that I was never satisfied. There was always something better. The only thing I never hesitated on was my spouse. Snap decision. Marry him. Now that should have taken more than a couple weeks and I might have been a whole lot happier. Result: Very bad choice.
INeil my early twenties, I realized that there were only two decisions that were 100% irrevocable. Virtually every other decision could be fixed, altered, adjusted or reversed. Those two decisions: Having a child or having an abortion. You can't take either one back or 'fix' it.
I never did either one.
But this knowledge was freedom. I've moved to cities I had never even visited - twice. I've quit jobs without having another. I've owned and eventually sold two businesses. I research my decisions, then get on with it.
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