Should I hit snooze or get up? Before opening our eyes in the morning, our brain is already confronted with the first decision of the day. Once we got up (sooner or later), it goes on like this. Up to 35,000 times a day, we weigh options and decide for or against something. Most decisions are made subconsciously, intuitively, in a matter of seconds, but it's still quite exhausting for the organism.
Making decisions is just as tiring as physical exertion
Constantly evaluating options is mental work and costs us a lot of energy. The more decisions we face, the harder it gets – we get decision fatigue.
The bad news: Decision fatigue leads to suboptimal choices. For example, we choose hastily, make unnecessary and unfavorable compromises, or even make riskier decisions under stress. Worst case, we get trapped in a decision blockade and don't decide anything at all.
The good news: Decision fatigue can be prevented. Routine is the magic word. Or as former U.S. President Barack Obama put it: "You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can't be going through the day distracted by trivia." Obama therefore always wore suits in either blue or gray, Mark Zuckerberg grabbed one of his Brunello Cucinelli T-shirts and late Steve Jobs was known for his signature outfit consisting of jeans, turtleneck and New Balance sneakers.
Decision-making tips: 5 methods to make decisions easier
Especially on the job, one decision chases the next. What has priority? Which tasks can I delegate? Where can I cut costs? But questions concerning personal development are also buzzing around in the back of many people's heads – Am I still happy in my job? In my company? Should I renegotiate my salary? These questions are sometimes uncomfortable and can quickly maneuver you out of your comfort zone.
If you are stuck and can't come to a decision, you can use some decision-making tools. We have studied numerous methods and present our 5 favorites in the following section. They can be used alone or in combination.
1. Pro-contra list
The classic! For each decision, you write down arguments for and against it; at the end, you weigh it up.
A variation is the Benjamin Franklin method: The pro-criteria of different options are weighted with grades. At the end, average grades are calculated per options to determine the decision.
2. Decision matrix
Note all possible options of a decision in the columns of a table. Fill the rows with criteria that are considered important ("speed", "barrier-free", etc.). Now, give school grades for each option regarding how well it fulfills the criterion. Again, an average grade is calculated to make the decision.
3. 10-10-10 model
Time travel mentally to make good long-term decisions. Decide on one of the possible options in your mind. Then you think about the consequences of this decision in 10 minutes, in 10 months and in 10 years. That way, long-term effects can be visualized, even if they are somewhat abstract and uncertain.
4. Mind map
The central decision in question is written down in the middle of a sheet of paper. Starting there, draw your options using one branch per option. Now, add pro- and contra-argument branches to each option. Tip: Mark pro-points green and contra-points red.
The (colored) visualization of the pros and cons of possible options can simplify the choice.
5. CAF (Consider-All-Facts)
This method consists of three steps and can be visualized by three columns. In column 1 write down, all, really all, contributing factors that are available for the decision. Once the list is complete, they are sorted in column 2 from top to bottom in terms of relevance. In column 3, there is space for ideas, comments, pros and cons, etc. This method helps to get an overview and to point out open issues.
Sleep on it – more than just a saying
In case you find these methods too analytical, you can draw on the following 3 tips to tackle stuck thoughts:
- Change in perspective: Take a bird's eye view or imagine what you would advise a friend who is in the same situation. This is especially helpful in emotional situations.
- Reflect honestly: Have I considered enough alternatives? Do I know the possible consequences? Do I think they are justifiable? Be honest to yourself.
- Personal context: It doesn't have to be a "universally correct" decision, rather, it should feel right for you. This often takes some of the pressure off.
Because even complex problems don't always need complex solutions. Our gut feeling is often a good advisor. But what does the gut feel, actually? Just flip a coin. Often, we wish for either heads or tails to come up – and with that we are one step further.
When we listen to our intuition, however, we should keep in mind that we make better decisions when we are in a good mood. Moreover, we should pause before making important decisions and ideally sleep on them for a night. This is because our subconscious is better able to deal with complex issues and assess them better when we are asleep. If we then wake up the next morning with a decision in our gut and don't press snooze (too often), then nothing should go wrong in our daily decision marathon.
Are you also facing an important decision? Are you wondering when to take the next step in your career? Our Coopers team will support you competently in your decision-making process. Feel free to contact us.
Your Coopers Team
PS: If you are too emotional about a decision, turn off the lights. Why? We make more rational decisions in the dark. One study found that bright light heightens our emotions, both positive and negative.
Photo by Milad B. Fakurian via Unsplash
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