10 tips how to make good decisions

A Columbia University study found out that we have to make about 70 decisions per day. Some of these decisions are minor, but others are big decisions to make. Here are 10 tips on how to make good decisions:

1) Turn small decisions into routines
Eliminate smaller decisions by turning them into routines. Doing so frees up mental resources for more complex decisions.

2) Make big decisions during the morning
Research shows that the average person’s mood bottoms out approximately 7 hours after waking up, usually between 14:00-16:00. That’s about the time when the incidence of on-the-job error increases.

3) Get your emotions in check
Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions. Bad moods can influence your decision taking negatively as easily as a good mood can make you overconfident and impulsive.

4) Evaluate your options objectively
If you want to avoid making a bad decision, weigh your options against a predetermined set of criteria. Not only does this take out some of the subjectivity, but it makes deciding easier.

5) Sleep on tough decisions
Sleep allows your emotions to run their course. You’ll wake up feeling more mental clarity. You can then use tip 2 to make an important decision during the morning.

6) Don’t wait too long to decide
Before making important decisions, gather the necessary information first but put a limit on how much time you spend to gather such information. Otherwise, you run the risk of analysis paralysis. So, set realistic deadlines and stick to them.

7) Exercise to re-energize
Stress produces cortisol. Tasked with making a big decision, typically your cortisol levels spike. Cortisol makes thinking clearly and rationally tough. When you’re struggling to make a decision or you’re feeling stressed, try exercising.

8) Always go back to your moral compass
Having a set of values you can return to whenever you’re tasked with tough decisions is key. Without a home base to return to, you’ll feel lost and more stressed, further diminishing your ability to make good decisions.

9) Ask other successful people for advice
When making decisions, it’s easy to get influenced by confirmation bias. That’s when you choose an alternative and then gather information to support that decision, instead of gathering information first and then choosing the side. One way to beat confirmation bias is to get an outsider’s point of view. This second opinion will help you see your blind spots.

10) Reflect on old decisions
Use your experience and learn from bad decisions. Don’t make the same mistake twice. Develop a growth-mindset and be open to learning to do something different next time you face a similar challenge again.

Keep these 10 tips in mind next time you have to make a tough decision.

Sven Franssen