There comes a time in all our lives when big decisions are needed. These will come more than once. Each one will seem as stressful as the last one. Don’t feel bad if you have found yourself struggling to make important life choices in fear of the consequences of decisions. Many people find themselves in your shoes, winding down which questions to ask yourself when making a big decision.
The next time you are faced with making major decisions, you don’t have to go into a tailspin. Simply ask yourself these decision-making questions, and you can confidently make a final choice while avoiding decision fatigue:
1. What Will I Give Up?
Making a decision often comes with a list of things you are giving up. This can be comfort, extra money, location, and other things you have grown accustomed to. Ask yourself important decision-making questions such as: am I willing to give up what I have for this new opportunity? This is one of the first questions to ask yourself when making a big decision. Answering this first question can result in you making better decisions in which you feel confident.
However, if you’re struggling to picture what you will lose vs what you will gain from making a big decision, create a pros and cons list. Most of the time, having a visual aid can help with envision your future one way or another.
2. What Advice Would I Give Someone Else?
Another great decision-making framework to follow is asking yourself for advice. Think of someone you love facing the same dilemma. How will you approach it and how will you guide them during their decision-making process? Taking a step back and looking at the decision from a different perspective is a great way of avoiding decision fatigue.
When you think of the decision as someone else’s to make, you will relieve some of the pressure from your shoulders. So the next time you’re stuck between evaluating options, ask yourself what advice you would give to someone in your shoes. Once your head is clearer, you can make important life choices without feeling a great burden.
3. Will Regret This in the Future?
Important questions to ask yourself when making a big decision: will I regret this? Big decisions come with a lot of pros and cons. This adds to the pressure of making the right choice, which can paralyze anyone. While some people say it’s best not to overthink a decision, sometimes asking the hard questions allows you to make more effective decisions.
Are you doubting your choices? If it feels like you will regret a decision and you have time to reconsider, don’t decide in haste. We all have to live with regret, but you can avoid it by making the right choices from the start. Think about your future self and how they will feel about your decision.
4. How Will This Affect My Goals?
Speaking of the future, your gut-feeling decisions significantly impact your current goals. Consider decision-making tips such as having your personal goals in mind before jumping forward with a decision. If the next steps will hinder your personal and professional growth, it’s not the right decision for you. However, if you can see that the decision will create a positive ripple in your life, it might be the way to go.
Always keep your future self in the background when troubled with seeing clarity in decision-making. If you have their best interest in mind, your future self can be the perfect guide to turn to whenever you make a choice.
5. Will This Decision Affect Other People?
Aside from your current and future self, one of the most important questions to ask yourself when making a big decision is: who else is affected? This is very important for people who are raising a family. If your decisions will have a major impact on those you love the most, you should talk about it with your partner or someone equally important.
Learning how to make big decisions correctly also means considering those around you and how they are affected. Once you factor in the people you care about and if the decision will cause trouble, you can have a pros and cons list of what you should prioritize first.
6. How Do I Feel Right Now?
It might seem silly, but asking yourself how you feel during the moment you were asked to make important life choices matters. Making the right choices isn’t up to logical thinking. You should also consider your emotions and gut feelings. When you are making a decision that makes you feel excited, that is typically a good sign. However, your headspace may be clouded when you feel forced to accept an offer because you are avoiding decision fatigue.
Always check whether your feelings lean towards the positive or the negative. From there, you can think of the consequences of decisions that are made out of pressure and not forethought.
7. Am I Happy?
Lastly, one of the most important questions to ask yourself when making a big decision is: am I happy? Does making a final decision fill you with happiness and excitement? Or does it fill you with dread and regret? As trivial and shallow as it seems, considering your feelings when deciding is a must.
After all, it is your life and your future that is at risk of failure or success. Don’t dismiss your gut feeling when making a decision. Sometimes it is worth it to question yourself twice when evaluating options to ensure you choose what is best for you.
How to Make Big Decisions Correctly
It takes trial and error to perfect the decision-making framework. Everyone has a list of questions to ask yourself when making a big decision. It’s different for each person. The critical factor to keep in your pros and cons list during this decision-making journey is yourself, your future, and others who may be affected (if any). If the majority on your list is positive and you hesitate because you are afraid to leave your comfort zone, it’s time to leap. Make more confident decisions in the future by choosing bold choices that lead towards growth and development.