Be it routine decisions like which coffee you want for your regular coffee shop or more circumstantial choices such as which career to pick humans have more options than ever before while taking decisions.
“When people feel stuck in indecision, they often get trapped in a cycle of overthinking and rumination. There’s an emotional weight that builds when every choice starts to feel like a potential identity-defining move. In career-related decisions, this can be especially true as individuals frequently express fears that the “wrong” choice could derail their life, disappoint others, or signal failure. That can be a heavy burden to carry, and over time, it can lead to chronic stress, avoidance, and low self-esteem,” says Dr Ria Talwar, Counselling Psychologist at Samarpan.
Here are a few ways to deal with the struggle of picking from too many choices:
Prioritise yourself
Define larger goals rather than short-term benefits of making a certain choice. “Rather than starting with external markers of success, for example but not limited to, salary and prestige, individuals can begin by asking: What kind of life do I want to live? This internal compass can help filter out the noise and realign decision-making with personal meaning, rather than societal expectations,” says Dr Talwar.
Final verdict
Post-choice regret can make you doubt your decisions and undermine your sense of self confidence. If a decision has the option of being reversed, the urge to indulge increases all the more. To deal with this, try to think of all your decisions as the ‘final verdict’. Ishi Gupta, a student at Springdales School, Pusa Road shares, “To avoid spiraling, I try to stop thinking in loops and instead focus on what I’ve chosen, actively working on it grounds me. Some days, I find comfort in the belief that everything happens for a reason. Maybe there’s a bigger plan in motion set by some supreme power — and that makes it easier to stay where I am.”
Give it time
Have the courage to walk away from the table and take your time in pondering over what’s right for you. Learn to strike the right balance between taking too much and too little time in making decisions. Shopping for experience rather than intent can help you practise the art of picking from multiple options.
Seek external opinion
It can be quite helpful to seek the help of someone you feel has more knowledge about the subject and would be able to break it down for you. Looking at community reviews ocassionally, seeking help from a salesperson or bringing a friend along for shopping can add joy and reduce the stress associated with making a tough choice.
Gratitude journal
People can often turn blind to the positive aspects of the decisions they take and choose to only focus on its shortcomings instead. In such situations, expressing gratitude can be a powerful tool to overcome this sense of loss. Maintain a journal and write down five things daily that you’re grateful for. This will help shift the focus from being overwhelmed to feeling confident about the choices you make. As Ishi adds, “Even though too many options stress me out, I’d never want to give up the freedom to choose. It’s a privilege to have a choice at all and I recognise that. Choice comes with pressure, yes, but also with power.”
Focus on making the choice that’s right for you to help you stick by what you decide for the long run.
