Written by: Laura Kirk, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It's late afternoon, and I still haven't decided what I'm making for dinner. I am tired, and all I want to do is have a glass of wine. But, while drinking dinner sounds like a great idea, everyone else in my family will be at the table eagerly awaiting an actual dinner. Why can't I think of what to make, despite having a kitchen full of food?
Well, let's think back. I started this morning at 7:30, first deciding to get out of bed, then to exercise. Both decisions were made with a good bit of protest. Next on the agenda, more decisions. Choose content for the entire month. Manage a client's Google campaign, update keywords, and make sure they are getting the most bang for their buck. And later...I think you get the point!
Being a female business owner, my personal and professional life intersect daily. I didn't want decisions to be big scary things anymore; I wanted some "rules" for myself. I want to share these rules with you in the hope they will ease anxiety for you as they have for me.
“When our physical energy slumps, so does the quality of our decisions.” ~ Michael Hyatt
I wanted to understand why we make such bad decisions at times. It didn’t take much research to find that on average, humans make a whopping 35,000 choices per day! I am sure this number is based on some scientific criteria, such as how many hours are you awake? What do you consider to be a decision? Even considering some variables, making anything close to this many decisions is a day feels overwhelming. No wonder adulting is hard!
How can we simplify the decision-making process? Don't try to make fast decisions that require a slow reasoning process. Ordering lunch can be fast, buying a new house however, requires a slow reasoning process. Know your limits for fast decisions. For instance, if you are at your best early in the day, don't make fast decisions after 1:00 if at all possible. Plan your meetings and the most important interactions for the morning if possible. You get the idea.
Here are five steps I use daily to make better decisions:
Let me sleep on it. Most decisions can wait a few hours until you have had a good night's sleep. Knowing I am not in the right space for fast decision making in the afternoon allows me the time needed to fully contemplate the choices.
Make a pros and cons list. Gathering the facts and sort them. Even when you have to make a quick decision, making the list will help you determine what is best for yourself, your family, and your business.
Strategically plan your day. As I mentioned before, I design my day based on when I am the most productive and able to make the best decisions.
Set boundaries. Know when to tell yourself and other people no! We do a lot of this work in our personal branding process. Discovering your motivators, goals, and defining your principles will be a guiding factor in this step.
Ask for help from trusted friends and peers. Knowing when to ask for help is crucial, not only for making in good decisions, but also for building your business. Find some trusted resources and utilize them!
Using these 5 simple steps has truly helped me alleviate the stress of everyday decision making. I feel sure if utilized the same will be true for you. Know that no one is perfect at this process. Some decisions simply won’t be made at all and some will be made poorly. Know that this is the case for every human being. Give yourself grace to be imperfect, to apologize when needed, to correct, to adapt and to grow with each mistake. If you can do this, and I know you can, you are one giant step closer to a wildly successful professional and personal life, one that is balanced!
To learn more about how to design your life and business to make you wildly happy, including free resources, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or visit my website.
Laura Kirk, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Laura Kirk is a Business and Brand Coach dedicated to helping small businesses across the United States build a life and business that will give them freedom and security, so they can live a life that makes them wildly happy. A marketing and business strategy strategist, Laura has over 20 years of experience building brands and businesses. With the action-by-action processes and discovering focus, flow, and alignment, entrepreneurs clarify their goals, create successful strategies, and take decisive action. Laura has worked with companies of all sizes, from CPG brands, state tourism agencies, to contracting with larger agencies. She discovered her true passion is to coach entrepreneurs and small business owners to build their brand and business and achieve what they might consider an impossible goal. Knowing that it's possible, Laura turned her dream into reality, and now she wants to share and teach others how to do the same. We will take a little bit of life coaching, blending with brand work, and throw in a killer marketing strategy.
