We’ve all been there. Staring blankly at the screen, your brain flat out refusing to function, keeping you stuck in an endless battle of indecision.
Should you launch your new offer now or hold off?
Raise your prices or stay put?
Post this update on LinkedIn?
Suddenly, you’re paralysed. Scrolling aimlessly, your momentum for doing anything productive is gone.
Decision fatigue is one of the sneakiest productivity killers in business. It drains our energy, feeds our overthinking, and stalls our progress.
So how do we get out of this overthinking decision fatigue loop?
I believe the answer is to treat every choice like an experiment. This is exactly what I do in my business and teach my clients to do as well and believe me, it’s a game changer.
The Experimentation Mindset
We are constantly bombarded with choices. We’re told to be decisive and confident, but our brains have a limited capacity for daily decision-making. So by midday, after countless micro-decisions already, our brains are depleted.
When the time comes to make an important decision, we’re exhausted! So instead of taking bold action, we fall into the overthinking trap, second-guessing ourselves until decisions are pushed to “later”—which often never arrives.
Instead of agonising over making the “perfect” choice, what if we flipped the script and approached each decision as a chance to learn and adapt?
Four Steps to Combat Decision Fatigue
So, how do we apply this in our businesses? Here are the four steps I recommend:
- Take the Pressure Off
Instead of “What if I get this wrong?” ask yourself, “What if I just test it and see what happens?” Not every decision is permanent. Think of each one as a prototype, not necessarily the final product.
- Set a Timeline
Give yourself a deadline. Whether it’s trialing a new pricing model for 30 days or testing a marketing strategy for a quarter, set a timeframe and stick to it. A deadline will stop you from endless overthinking and by the time you hit that deadline, you can decide whether to move forward or cancel it.
- Measure What Matters
Define what success looks like before you start. For example, if you’re testing a lead generation strategy, is success about increasing lead numbers, improving lead quality, or reducing stress in the process? Clarity on metrics prevents confusion and helps you interpret the results accurately.
- Detach from the Outcome
Not every experiment will work and that’s perfectly fine. The goal is to learn and move forward. Embrace the mantra that it’s not about perfection but continuous learning and adaptation.
Embrace Experimentation In Your Business
Here’s a challenge for you: Identify one decision you’ve been overthinking and turn it into an experiment. Set a deadline, define success, and give it a go, regardless of what the outcome might be.
I’d love to hear the results of your experiment, be they triumphs or face-palm moments! Connect with me on LinkedIn or on Instagram and let’s share the power of experimentation. The more we embrace this mindset, the less room we’ll have for fear to dictate our actions. So, go on, give it a shot, and experiment with something this week.
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