There are decisions and then there are decisions

Simplicity is about living our lives with fulfillment, happiness and balance. Practicing simple tools consistently is a great way to build the lives we desire.

There are decisions and then there are decisions. This article is not about those big decisions, like, “Should I buy a house, start a family, relocate?” This is about those small decisions we face as we live our day-to-day lives.

This is for all of you who have stared blankly at the wall of gifts, wondering what to get. It’s for those of you who have asked the waiter to come back twice while you waffle over appetizers. And if you are like me, it is for those of you who look every time at the menu board in the fast-food drive-through as if you have never seen it before.

Decisions, decisions. Sometimes, it’s the small decisions that get us The problem with all that waffling is it takes time from our already busy days.

The benefit to making up your mind quickly on the small stuff is two-fold. First, making quicker decisions frees up more time. Second, the better you get at making small decisions, the better off you will be when the big decisions come along.

Here is a three-step tool for quick decision making on the small stuff.

1. Ask yourself, “Is there even a wrong answer here?” For instance, “Do I want the chicken wings or the soup?” “Should I wear this or that?” No wrong answer here.

2. Redefine your objective. Your goal should be to make a quick decision. It’s not important to get into a deep analysis over whether you feel like soup or wings, it’s really more important to just decide. This is good training for big decisions. Teach yourself to put the little decisions in their place.

3. Refuse to second guess yourself. Once you’ve made a decision, remind yourself that your goal is to master making rapid, smart decisions for the small stuff, not examining the options for the perfect answer. Fixating on those decisions wastes your time.

Your goal isn’t making the perfect choice, but choosing quickly and wisely. You will gain hours back in your week, you will become more confident, and you will be well-practiced for when the tough decisions head your way.