Welcome to Our 3-Part Series on Decision Making!
Each of us makes thousands of decisions each day. Most of them we don’t even really notice, sleep an extra 15 minutes, what to eat, take a break or keep working, and so many more.
Some of our decisions are more complex and weigh more heavily on us because of how they may impact our lives. Attend college or get a job, live on my own or with roommates, or make a large purchase or pay a bill, just to name a few.
We often think that we are bad at making decisions, especially if we have had some that didn’t turn out the way we like. Everyone struggles with this because of how our brains work. There are many factors that prompt our brain to think and act in certain ways. Understanding how these psychological tricks work can put the decision making more in your control.
Our Personal Tendency to Think a Certain Way
Being attached to something because we are familiar with it even though we may be unhappy with it. We think choosing something new and different could be a risk or not worth the trouble. What if it doesn’t work out and you can’t go back to at least the way things were.
This is called Status Quo Bias and it can be responsible for us becoming overly resistant to change. This can stand in the way of new and exciting experiences.
I Heard it So it Must be True
Advertising and how we respond to it falls into this area of decision making. A can’t miss opportunity buy now or miss out. We hear the great deal being revealed and before we know it, we are making the purchase. Known as Anchoring Bias we impulsively act because the information we are hearing sounds so wonderful. Being objective and taking a step back before deciding protects us from the potential buyer’s remorse we may feel after this.
Too Many Choices Not Enough Time
This is where stress marches in and either pushes you to make a decision or makes you walk away without something you need. Stress impacts on our ability to make decisions and the quality of our decisions. When faced with too many we experience choice overload.
Decisions are Exhausting
Our lives are always super busy and because of that we are forced to make many decisions over a prolonged period. This can make us feel drained and short on willpower. This is referred to as Decision Fatigue. What happens is that we often find it difficult to say no to our impulses and yes to anything that would disrupt the current situation. In this scenario we often find it stressful to even think about making decisions let alone work through what is right or wrong for us. Following the path of what is easiest takes control.
Uncertainty Feels Wrong, but it Can Be So Right
Weighing options requires time and energy. Second guessing yourself or feeling indecisive are part of the process. It sounds negative and counterproductive, but it can be protective. This shows that you are thinking about your options instead of just bulldozing forward just to decide.
This is the first step to making thoughtful decisions. Next time we will explore how we make decisions.