7 ways to learn to make decisions

1. Say "no" perfectionism

Oddly enough, often perfectionism and uncertainty go hand in hand. Barry Schwartz, author of "The paradox of choice"Says:

In today's world, where the choice is practically unlimited, the desire to choose the best option leads to the same frustration. Try not to look for the "best", but only "good enough."

Barry Schwartz

Trying to choose the best, we are beginning to delay the selection and eventually slipping into procrastination. So do not try to chase an unattainable ideal, but to work with what you have at the moment.

2. Make decisions in the morning

Argentine researchers Maria Julian Mariano Sigman Leone and conducted several experiments and foundIs There an Ideal Time of Day for Decision-Making?That the most exact solutions Most people take in the morning.

The ability to make a choice at all depends on the time of day. In the morning, people make decisions slowly, but make more accurate choices, and we decide quickly in the evenings, but often wrong.

Take note of this and try to take the most important decisions in the first half of the day, when you're not tired from work, household chores and other routines. Ideally, create to-do lists that you definitely decided to do today, and the following list for the day.

3. Let me make the decision to someone else

researchDecision Fatigue Exhausts Self-Regulatory Resources It shows that a large number of options deprives us of will power and leads to "fatigue from decision-making." This term He introduced a social psychologist Roy Baumeister of Princeton University.

There is a kind of trick that helps avoid the fatigue: Put the burden of choice on another's shoulders. Of course, it is vitally important decisions to trust others not - when parents determine for you, learn where and by whom the work is not particularly good. But here's the minor issues can be delegated, not to bother.

Dr. bus Iyengar, author of "The Art of choice", gives the following example. She loves wine, but does not understand its varieties, aging, fragrances and similar subtleties. So when she wants a drink, it is not a long time leafing through the wine list, but simply asked the sommelier to choose something suitable. Delegate selection in all its glory.

Wine continues to please me, because I do not make efforts, choosing it. I am happy that I did not have to make the decision independently, in other wine choice would work for me.

bus Iyengar

4. Make a habit of choice

In fact, you do not even need help outsiders to give them a choice. You can rely on force habits. For example, Steve Jobs wore constantly identical shirts and jeans. Him, and so had to constantly make decisions in the affairs of the company, and he did not want to expend energy and more to choose from wardrobe. And Mark Zuckerberg should do the same.

You can do the same: select the appropriate food, clothing or accessories once, and then just follow the habit. Or make up for a detailed schedule of the day and will not suffer a question, what to do next.

5. Use a random number generator

Another option - choose between several equivalent embodiments randomly. This method recommends venture capitalist Patrick McGinnis. Him all the time necessary to decide how to conduct their business on the stock exchange, so over unimportant matters, he hardly thinks, handing choice... his watch.

To choose between all sorts of little things everyday, I use the method of "Advise the clock." I cut the list of options to two. Then assign each option on one side of my watch - right or left. I look at which half of the dial is the second hand at that moment. Decision is made. It sounds silly, but if you try this method, you say, I still thank you. It is very time-saving.

Patrick McGinnis

With the same success you can throw a dice or flip a coin, just like Harvey Dent.

6. Use the rule of 90%

In fact, the choice of the delegation and tricks with the clock are suitable only for small things - if you can not decide what to eat for breakfast or how to tie a tie. However, not all solutions in our life so simple. For a more complex choice is usually 90%.

It came up with Greg McKeon, author of the book "Essentialism». It consists in the following. When we make choices, each of the options available, as a rule, there are pluses and minuses. McKeon offers to evaluate each of the options on a scale from 0 to 100. If your solution is gaining less than 90 points, reject it.

It's just common sense. If your solution is not to say a definite 'yes', tell him "no" and do not worry.

Greg McKeon.

Typically 90 per cent of decision-making much easier: if option over 10% less and less 90% plus, it is not worth taking. "Think about what you feel, if in any test will type 65 points out of 100, - says McKeon. - Most likely, you will be disappointed. Whether you want to experience the same feeling, making an important choice? "

7. Do thought experiments

In his popular blog Wait But Why Tim Urban advised his readers to make decisions - even such important as marriage or career choice - using thought experiments.

For example, you are in doubt whether to continue your novel or better break up with your partner. Tim Urban has an imagine a certain button. Clicking on it will teleport you into the future, two months after the break. Your heavy conversations, public scenes and scandals in the past, your closet is free from the things of the former or the former - any forgotten sock. All in the past. You clicked on a button to? If yes, then you are not afraid to break, and the hassle and trouble that accompany it.

Or, for example, you want to go on a trip, but can not decide. Imagine that your friend was asked to make a choice for you. One day he hands you an envelope, in which lie your tickets for the next flight. You are excited and looking forward to the adventure or disappointed? If the latter, then you are not so and want to go somewhere.

Urban says that such thought experiments allow people who are obsessed with logic and trying all the time to follow the voice of reason, start to listen to your intuition.