List #57 - 5 ways I make decisions when I’m unsure
Decision-fatigue, unfortunately, plagues women the most. I am a fairly quick decision-maker, although sometimes I’m a little too quick. When I feel overwhelmed, or like there are too many decisions to be made at once, these are my tricks to stay calm and focused.
I look inward.
This is a lesson learned from Evy Poumpouras (former U.S. Secret Service and badass - read her book “Becoming Bulletproof”). She says before she gets other people’s advice, she looks inward to understand what she really thinks. This allows her to get clarity before she seeks outside counsel and invites additional input. It also helps her stay self-assured, own her actions, and increases confidence.
I move for 10 minutes.
Get away from the phone and into your body. Sometimes all it takes is ten minutes away from external stimulation to know what to do.
I take a hot shower.
Yes, in the middle of the day. Not only does this get me away from my phone and help me look inward, but I feel so refreshed. I imagine there’s a scientific reason why we get our best ideas in the shower!
I get the emotions out of the way first.
If I have to make a decision that I’m frustrated about, I take a step back and do my best to remove emotion from the situation. I try to look objectively at the issue in order to remain calm (rage can get the best of us!).
I sleep on it.
Typically I don’t have a lot of situations where I really have to let something sit, but when I do, I remember that the worst decisions are often made impulsively and at night when we’re tired. Sleep usually fixes that right up and I feel better in the morning.