Making decisions can be hard sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be so complicated or painful. You just need to focus on the right things and follow these ten steps below to be more decisive in life!

What It Means to Be Decisive

The definition of decisive is “the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.” Being decisive means that you are able to take charge and be in control of your life. You don’t let others make decisions for you, nor do you shy away from making tough choices.

When you are decisive, you have confidence in your ability to choose the best course of action and you act on it.

10 Steps To Be More Decisive in Life

Step 1) Stop Overthinking

Perfectionism is just an excuse for procrastination. When you want to start something new, but can’t seem to get yourself going because it’s not perfect, tell yourself that no one really cares about how much time and effort went into it.

Step 2) Give Yourself Permission to Fail

One of the things that prevent us from being decisive is fear—fear of failing, fear of success, and so on. Giving yourself permission to make mistakes and to be imperfect allows you to focus on what’s really important.

Step 3) Write it Down

Start by writing down all of your options—everything from get a haircut to move across the country for a job opportunity.

Yes, some of these things may seem like no-brainers, but sometimes we need to put them down on paper (or computer screen) before we can make sense of what we really want.

You should probably give yourself a day or two between when you write your list and when you decide so that you can think about each option without being rushed.

Step 4) Ask Others For Advice

Sometimes, it’s hard to know what we want. In those moments, it’s a good idea to step back and ask others for help.

Friends and family are great places to start (especially if you don’t want your friends and family members reading what you have to say).

People who love you will want what’s best for you, so they can give helpful insights into which decision might be right for you. You could also try asking someone who knows you well professionally or personally—someone like a mentor or friend of a friend.

These people may not be able to tell you what choice is right for you, but they can offer advice on how to make an informed decision that fits with your values and goals.

And sometimes all it takes is hearing yourself describe your situation out loud to realize that there is no right answer—and that making any choice will lead to positive results down the road.

Step 5) Define Done

Even if you’re trying to be more decisive, you won’t always reach a decision. In these cases, it’s critical to define done.

For example, if you are trying to choose between two places for dinner with your spouse on a Friday night, don’t look at ten other restaurants and then try to decide; limit yourself and commit to one choice.

Step 6) Never Fear a Public Failure

You learn from your mistakes and one day, you might become a success story. If you aren’t afraid to fail, you’ll approach things with more confidence and make better decisions throughout your career.

Embrace failure because it will only serve to help you in your future endeavors! Now get out there and be confident! It won’t kill you. People may even like it!

Step 7) Learn From Your Mistakes

The only way to learn how to be more decisive is by getting out there and making mistakes.

Too often, we allow ourselves to get bogged down with deliberation over every decision, thinking we’re making a thoughtful choice when really we’re just wasting time.

Becoming more decisive can be done by recognizing our own tendency toward deliberation and accepting that it’s okay—in fact, it’s preferable—to make decisions faster than you normally would.

Step 8) Only Compare Yourself to Yourself

Comparing yourself to others is like comparing apples to oranges—something is always missing. The only thing we can compare ourselves to, however, is our own past selves—and that’s usually good enough.

If you set some goals a month ago and look at how far you’ve come, you’ll realize how much progress you’ve made already. Sometimes it can be difficult to see with all of life’s distractions going on around us.

So take time out each day to reflect on your progress and pat yourself on the back. This will help keep you motivated and moving forward.

Step 9) Set a Deadline

If you’re still having trouble making decisions, set a deadline for yourself. This will force you to focus and make a choice—even if it’s not the best one.

The important thing is that you made a decision and can move on with your life. You can always change your mind later if you need to.

Step 10) Be OK with Not Being Perfect

No one is perfect, and no decision is going to be perfect either. The goal is to be as close to perfect as possible, but don’t beat yourself up if you’re not.

The important thing is that you made a decision and can move on. Life is too short to agonize over every little choice. If you’re able to be more decisive, you’ll find that you have more time for the things you enjoy—and that’s what really matters.

Final Thoughts

The most important thing to understand about being decisive is that it’s not about being impulsive. It’s about making well-reasoned decisions based on your values, goals, and priorities. It may seem counterintuitive, but rushing into a decision can sometimes be a way of avoiding making one at all.

So there you have it! Ten steps to help you be more decisive in life. Just remember that practice makes perfect. The more you try, the better you’ll get at it. And before you know it, making decisions will be a breeze!