Are You Indecisive?

1. How long does it take you to order in a restaurant?

(b) A few minutes. I read the menu and order what seems best.

(c) I’m always the last to order, usually after asking the waiter many questions.

2. What bothers you most about answering questions?

(b) I worry what people will think.

(c) I don’t like having to say my opinion.

3. What is your favorite color?

(b) I like two colors, depending whether it’s for clothing or flowers.

(c) I don’t have a favorite color.

4. Do other people make decisions for you?

(b) Occasionally, I ask for help.

(c) All the time.

5. What is your greatest strength?

(b) I have a few strengths, but I am particularly good at listening to others.

(c) I’m not sure. I have a lot of strengths.

6. When your friends are planning a party for another friend, how do you help? (a) I throw out a suggestion and see how they respond.

(c) I mostly keep quiet and let them decide.

7. When shopping for new furniture, you find two coffee tables that you love. You only need one. What do you do?

(b) I call a friend and get her to help me choose one.

(c) I buy neither. It would just be too hard to decide between the two.

8. How long does it take you to think of a name for a new pet?

(b) By the end of the day, I would name the pet.

(c) I would spend at least a week researching popular names for pets.

9. How long did it take you to decide to take this quiz?

(b) I came back to it after reading the rest of the articles. I didn’t think I needed an indecisive quiz.

(c) A friend told me that I was indecisive. So, I decided to try it.

            Trust your gut. Your “gut,” or emotional center, will often lead you in one specific direction. It’s probably your brain that is holding you up with “analysis paralysis.” If you are struggling with a decision, chances are that neither option is inherently better than the other (otherwise you would have made the decision quickly, right?). So, allow your emotional side to swing the balance.

            Practice with the small stuff. Some decisions warrant lengthy discussions and multiple pro and con lists, but other decisions can be made in a snap. In order to get more comfortable with the decision-making process, try working on the “small stuff.” When ordering in a restaurant or selecting a book in the bookstore, attempt to make a quick choice – don’t allow yourself to linger on these momentary issues. This way, when you get to the bigger decisions, you won’t be worn out by the smaller decisions already.