On overcoming analysis paralysis
I hadn’t realized how much time had passed between walking in and finally walking out with what I wanted - a tall iced coffee with one cream and one sugar. After what felt like several minutes of deliberating, I remember calling my cousin to ask her what I should get from the college coffee shop. The lights, the menus, the sounds of students and crunching sandwich wrappers made it feel like time had stopped for me but was moving at speed for everyone else.
I am no stranger to analysis paralysis (especially when it comes to picking warm beverages).
Decisions of all types can feel daunting for some of us more than others. Especially if we are prone to perfectionist tendencies, wanting to get it “right”, or if we struggle with self-doubt, it might be useful to try some of the strategies below to ease decision making. I have tried them in my own life as a chronic-overthinker and I have seen benefits that I think are worth sharing here.
What often contributes to difficulty with small and large decisions could include:
Overthinking
Overanalyzing
Too many options
Perfectionism
Mental blocks
Worst-case-scenario rehearsals
Not breaking down an idea / plan / project
Not seeking help
From the list, you can ask yourself which of these are most common for you and in what areas of your life does analysis paralysis show up most?
Once you recognize this pattern in your thought process, you can try any of the following to lower the distress around decisions and feel more at ease inshaAllah.
Become a scientist: When we start anything with a place of wonder and curiosity, we can let go of the idea to get it “right” or what we think we “should” do. Consider making the problem at hand into an experiment by asking a question like, “I wonder what will happen if I try …. (insert option)?” You can give yourself room to fumble and be inquisitive while learning without getting stuck in an endless cycle of ruminations.
Make du’a and take action: It’s easy to stay in the research phase of something we are passionate about but sometimes the best way forward is simply saying Bismillah and giving it a go. This doesn’t mean we don’t plan ahead or think of alternatives, but without taking action here and now, we miss out on the lessons and growth that we need to get where we want to go.
This can look like putting the pen to paper if you want to write but don’t know where to start, or starting a project even if you don’t have every single thing you think you need. When we take the first step, our internal drive kicks in and we find creative ways to keep going but if we stay at the stop light, waiting for all other lights to turn green, we’ll be waiting forever and most likely turn back.
Use a lifeline: Remember in older game shows when contestants could phone a friend if they needed a little nudge? When we’re feeling stuck, it’s helpful to think of the support people in your life you can count on if you’re in a rut and ask them to hear you out or for advice if that’s what you’re seeking.
Break it down: Any time I am starting a project, I get out my graph paper pad and I write out every single step I think is involved in getting from start to finish. I know deep down that I am missing certain steps or that my knowledge is incomplete in certain areas (which is where research comes in) but I start with what I know and through Allah’s help, the rest falls into place if I am committed enough.
A big idea doesn’t feel so big when you can create a list of all the ingredients. Suddenly, you start to feel clarity and a confident inner voice saying, “I can do this”.
Go for “good enough”: For the first attempt on anything, protect yourself from thoughts of making it perfect. Your idea will find a way into the world when you give yourself permission to let it come alive without stifling it.
Each iteration will get better along the way and you can always raise the bar for yourself as you go but as an antidote to analysis paralysis, get yourself to “good enough”, which will be so much better than nothing at all!
Strive for positive momentum: With any good and healthy action, notice your thought process as the idea pops into your mind, as you let it grow and incline more towards it, before finally resolving to do it or postpone or procrastinate on it. Take sadaqah for example. We learn about a great cause and our heart wants to support it so we should try our best to jump as quickly as possible from thinking about doing it to actually donating before shaytan, distractions, or procrastination steal the opportunity away from us.
Once you think of an idea or a project and you feel yourself inclining towards it, start. Just start.
Listen to your intuition: Your inclinations are not random. They can point you towards your deepest gifts. Don’t allow mental blocks to get in the way of your intuition by recognizing how you feel when you engage in certain good deeds, practices, hobbies, and when you frequent certain places and peoples’ gatherings.
Step away: When our minds are feeling fogged from trying to make a decision, you can find solace in getting some space — take a walk, a warm bath, have some tea and shift your focus. Your clarity will come back to you with Allah’s help and guidance. Don’t feel pressured if your intuition is telling you to take a step back and come back to what you are doing with a renewed spirit and fresh hope.
I hope these ideas can be helpful to you on your own journey towards realizing your ideas and moving forward in your life in a beautiful and committed way.
