Have you ever been so caught up in a decision-making process for something that you didn’t even know where to start or what to do next?
Say hello to analysis paralysis.
If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or anyone who’s faced a big project ahead of them, this situation probably sounds familiar.
You might have a mind-blowing idea you’re dying to bring to life, but if you’re caught in the tangle of decision paralysis, it might never get off the ground.
It’s critical you decide to take action rather than sit and overanalyze it to death. There are some real consequences beyond not moving forward in your business or on a project.
The good news? You can conjure up your own analysis paralysis cure by understanding what’s really going on and then saying sayonara to your not so helpful habit.
Psychology of Analysis Paralysis
In a nutshell, analysis paralysis psychology boils down to this: when there are a plethora of options at our feet, all our access to information creates a situation where we are so terrified of making the wrong choice, we become immobilized. This leads us to experience greater anxiety and indecision.
I mean, have you seen the difference between a McDonald’s menu from the 1970s vs. today? It’s a lot easier to make a choice with fewer options.
Stop Overcomplicating Things
The concept of less is more exists for a reason. When you’re facing choice paralysis of some kind, this is especially valid. The antidote to indecision and overthinking is as simple as narrowing down your choices and then taking action and staying the course. Be aware that indecision can also masquerade as “action steps” that appear to be moving you forward but really aren’t. Here are some common pitfalls to sidestep by simplifying them and taking action:
The “To Do List”
One of the most notorious analysis paralysis symptoms. Do you ever spend more time mapping out what you have to do than doing it? Sorry to break it to you, but it’s not necessarily getting you further down the track. And it can lead to a spiral of becoming overwhelmed by what you have to do. If you must make a to-do list, keep it short and sweet with an achievable timeframe that works for you.
The Myth of Multitasking
Ahh, multi-tasking — something we think we can do but not really. Studies have found we’re actually less efficient when juggling new and unfamiliar tasks. It’s difficult for our brain to continually shift gears into something else. This makes it tough to end up with a quality end result. So pick one thing to focus on at a time and go for it. That’s the key to unlocking the hold overthinking has on you — that tricky doing part.
Taking on Too Many Things at Once
Don’t let overintellectualizing your goals morph into taking on all your tasks at once to dot all your i’s and cross your t’s. See how crafty it is? It looks like you’re getting loads done and taking action when the reality is you overthought your way out of prioritizing what’s essential. You lose momentum if you pile too many things on your plate.
Speaking of Goals…
Give yourself a break by working on a shorter timeline. You’ll be moving closer to where you want to be, but instead of overloading yourself with both short and long-term goals, you’ll have a series of smaller wins on the way to big wins.
Take a Timeout
One thing that’s commonly overlooked but fundamental to stopping the fence sitting is giving yourself quiet time and space to find clarity. Knowing how you don’t want to do something is just as important as knowing how you do want to do something. With clarity, you’ll be more able to decide where it is you want to go with a project or idea. Consider these breaks purposeful action.
Waiting to Feel Ready
It’s tempting to wait it out until the precise moment when you’re ready to do something, but the reality is we seldom feel perfectly set to do anything. In fact, we might miss our chance altogether when we wait for the fabled “perfect time.” Accept that it may never come and get ready to jump in the ring anyways.
The essence of overthinking is the absence of taking action. Let go of the worry and the fear you have of making a “wrong” move — just MAKE A MOVE. When you aren’t headed where you want, any progress is better than staying in the same place.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of overanalyzing, but an analysis paralysis cure can be as simple as taking action. You can only eat the elephant one bite at a time.
How have you busted through the block of overthinking? Tell us in the comments!
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