How To Make Better Decisions

Every day we must decide thousands of things: from trivial matters to important questions. And it is that, in life, everything is about decisions. In addition, the ideal is to make better decisions.

However, not all people have the necessary clarity, and they need help.

Tips to make better decisions

Whether you are an entrepreneur or you work in a dependent relationship, you are single or you have two children, you live with your parents or your partner, you must continually make decisions.

Many people have great difficulty doing this. Perhaps it is because they are used to others doing it for them or because they are not encouraged … In any case,  pay attention to these tips that can help you make better decisions:

1. Do not fear the consequences

Even if you have to choose your new car, where to live or who to marry, all this has its pros and cons. Each decision implies a forecast. That is, we can win or we can lose. For this reason, we almost always opt for the option that we suppose will make us happier.

However, this is not the case in all cases. Loss aversion and fear of making a mistake can greatly influence decision-making. Therefore, you must bear in mind that each choice has its reaction, for better or for worse.

2. Identify the purpose

When faced with a situation that requires an important decision, you should always keep in mind what your goal is and how the choice you make will take you in that direction. The goal must also be present in the process. 

3. Take responsibility

Another reason why we cannot make better decisions is because we feel cornered with the choice we have made (or are about to make). Being responsible for your actions includes knowing how to act if something goes wrong or even congratulating yourself if everything goes well.

The commitment you have with your actions is essential. If you have realized that you have not made a decision, you should know that  there is no use blaming yourself. The next step is to fix the situation. Then learn from mistakes.

4. Trust your intuition

We think that to make better decisions we must analyze every day or week. However, we do not always have that time at our disposal and we must act as soon as possible. This does not mean that we will be wrong, but that we must learn how to let ourselves be carried away by our intuition.

5. Examine the options

It is not the complete opposite of the advice of intuition but additional. When you are faced with a problem or situation, it  is normal to analyze it from your point of view or perspective. Why don’t you look at it as if you were someone else in a different position?

Perhaps this can help you consider other options, and make the process easier. Critical thinking can often obstruct the mechanics of choices.

6. Also consider your emotions

To make better decisions, not everything is rational but we must also leave room for feelings. It is true that in many cases emotions can play tricks on us, but they can also help us when we do not know which way to go.

Also, when we are angry, anxious or stressed, we are more prone to wrong decisions. Because  these emotions cloud our judgment.  Indeed, anger can make us impulsive and risk-prone.

7. Ask for help when needed

There is a very big difference between depending on others to decide for us and asking for help when we feel that we cannot make better decisions.

In the first case, we deviate from the obligation and do not think of a solution to our problem. In the second, we work as a team and make our brain consider new options.

8. Narrow down the options

If we have 20 shades of one color available to paint the children’s room, we may spend a week thinking about which one is correct. However, when we have fewer alternatives, it  is easier to discard.  

The more options, the more the brain has to work and the more time we lose. And it is more likely that this way we will not be able to make better decisions. So, keep your options to a minimum before choosing.