Per Wikipedia:
Analysis paralysis (or paralysis by analysis) describes an individual or group process where overanalyzing or overthinking a situation can cause forward motion or decision-making to become “paralyzed”, meaning that no solution or course of action is decided upon within a natural time frame.
I, as many others suppose, have many things I’d like to do in my lifetime. Nonetheless, even though I’ve gotten better at it over the years, I still feel easily overwhelmed by all the things I want to do, the things I feel like I’m supposed to do, and the things I must do. What have been your best ways to tackle this? How do you prioritize and find time for different interests, exercise while still combining it with work and other stuff?
You must log in or register to comment.
I have my service dog choose, that way it’s her fault not mine, one of her many functions.
Don’t let the unattainable perfect solution get in the way of the implementable good solution
I just assign a number between one and six to each choice. And then I roll a dice.
If the dice lands on something and my immediate reaction is “God dammit” I roll again until I get a choice I like.
Sometimes you don’t even know a choice isn’t one you want on the table until you pick it out of a lineup of other choices.
This is how I use coin flips (for two options, obviously).
Randomization. Simply impulsively make a decision at the last second.
This is very common and the solution is simple:
- Put the choices in a list.
- Compare item 1 with item 2, and pick the best option for whatever reason and ignore all the other choices.
- Remove the losing option from the list.
- Go to step 2 until there is only one choice left.
This works because every item you eliminated was worse than at least one other item in the list.
Until you have a Rock-Paper-Scissors problem.
Nope.
Try it.
Rock Paper Scissors
First two, Paper beats Rock.
Eliminate Rock.
New First two, Scissors beats Paper.
Eliminate Paper.
Scissors wins.
Read a little de Beauvoir, or Sartre. Existentialism always puts things in perspective.
I basically just do a mental coin toss or diceroll.
i default to the whatever can be finished early with what i currently have thinking. this is not the fastest per se but in my head, it strikes a nice balance.
and if that is not the right way to do it, i have less regrets because the move was cheap.
You’ll have to get the “must do” category contained. Define it, trim off anything not strictly a must.
Then, sort through the “should do.” How much of it actually should be done? How exactly do these tasks or activities improve your life? How much of it was recommended by someone who doesn’t understand your life or your social circles?
Once those two are managed, then space opens up for the “want to” category.
Or maybe not? Maybe you’re just at a place in life where maintaining a healthy life, healthy relationships, and paying the bills is all you have time for.
deleted by creator
If I really get stuck and can’t give one option a higher priority than the other, I assume they are “tied” and pick either randomly or based on what solves my most immediate need.
When I get analysis paralysis, I try to step back from the problem and give myself permission to experiment.
So instead of debating what hobby to take up, or product to buy, or whatever, I instead try to figure out how to give one of them a try for a day.
Depends how much I care about the end result and how knowledgeable I am with the topic.
Computers: No paralysis at all - I am picky and I can easily filter out most options.
Curtains: Get it over with and pick something with a reasonably average price so I can leave as quickly as possible.
