 Decisions.
Our life is riddled with decisions. Every step you take is a decision and clicking and reading this article was your decision too!
So, as much as we doubt our decision-making skills, we take decisions every moment of our lives. Not taking a decision is also a decision, albeit not a positive one.
Here are a few hacks that’ll help you be a better decision maker without any fear of falling behind or being wrong.
1. Use a decision matrix
Instead of making a simple to-do list you can do something a little more complex than that, but far more effective. Whenever you have a problem, you can write the criterions you’re considering according to the solution then rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. Whatever scores more, is the best possible thing to do!
2. Flip a coin, trust me it helps
You might’ve seen this in TV series or even movies, flipping the coin has had its share of fame and screen space (Scarface in Batman). But do you know how you can use it to your advantage? The trick is when you flip it in the air, you know what you’re wishing for the result. And that’s how you know what to decide!
3. Roll a die when in doubt
Assign numbers to your options on the same task and roll the die. Whatever comes, would be what you decide to do! Now that was easy!
With time, you’ll realise how much this has helped you in making decisions.
4. Make a solid pro-con list
Making a pro-con list is the oldest trick in the book, and one of the most effective. It clears all the clutter in your head and just makes your options very visibly open to you with all their good points and the flaws.
5. Procrastinate and panic, works wonders
Procrastination could be a boon in disguise. It actually could drive you to work effectively in a small amount of time, that actually makes you skip the options running quickly to the best possible thing to do at that moment and it seldom is wrong if calculated.
6. Make important decisions in the wake of the morning
Morning is a beautiful time, in which most of us prefer to be asleep. But you know what? Morning could be the best time of the day to make decisions. Your head is clear of everything and that could be a plus point in making an unbiased and profitable decision.
7. Pretend that you’re advising a friend
Talking to yourself a healthy amount is actually good for you, which makes you aware of both sides of an argument which makes you a clearer thinker, and in turn, a better decision maker!
8. Give yourself a deadline of two minutes only
When you’re required to make flash decisions, with no time to make a pro-con list or a decision matrix, give yourself only two minutes to decide what to do at that specific moment.
9. Play the chit game when there is no other way
The childhood game has its merits. It’d be easy and fun! Write your options on little chits and toss them in the air. Pick one up and decide to make that particular decision.
10. Always start with small decisions
You can use all the decision tricks on the small, day to day decisions to get used to them until you feel confident when you are ready to make bigger, more life-changing decisions.
11. Once decided, repeat your decision to yourself over and over
The master trick for all these tricks to work is your willingness. Stay by your decision once it’s done. And do not waver from it.