How to Make Decisions Fast Without Overthinking
Making decisions quickly and intuitively is a skill that can change your daily life and your professional world. Every day, we face choices—some small, some big. Sometimes, it’s about how we communicate, how we phrase things, and how we do it with both elegance and efficiency. But let’s be honest, it’s not always easy. It takes time, and above all, it takes practice.
Let me share three key ideas that have helped me become more intuitive and faster in my decision-making. These are simple, practical, and you can start using them right away.
1. Practice Every Day
The first key is practice. Make it a habit to take at least one decision every day. It doesn’t have to be a big one. Maybe it’s calling a supplier to negotiate a better price, or picking up the phone to discuss a partnership instead of sending an email. Why the phone? Because it forces you to act in the moment. With email, you have time to overthink, rewrite, and delay. On the phone, you have to jump in, just like diving off a board at the pool. You can’t hesitate forever—you just go for it.
2. Build Your Decision-Making Process
The second key is about how you build your arguments and structure your decisions. This applies to phone calls, but also to how you organize your tasks, your content, your procedures. Many of our daily actions are not physical—they’re abstract, like planning or creating content. Ask yourself: can I optimize this? Can I delegate it? For example, I once delayed finishing an online course because I got stuck editing videos myself. If I had followed my own checklist or delegated the editing to a professional, I would have finished much sooner. Always question your process. Could you do it better or faster? Could you hand it off to someone else?
3. Do Less, But Do It Better
The third key is to aim higher by doing less. Most of us tend to add more and more to our days, thinking we’ll achieve more. But the truth is, the more we add, the more complicated life becomes. Instead, try removing tasks and simplifying your day. The rule of minimalism applies here: the simpler your day, the less you’ll procrastinate. You’ll have more energy for the few important things that remain, and you’ll do them much better.
When you cut out the unnecessary, you free up time and energy. You can rest more, think more clearly, and focus on what truly matters. You’ll notice that the 20% of tasks that bring 80% of your results are the ones worth keeping. The rest? Let it go.
The less you do, the more you can rest, reflect, and find better ways to do things. — Anonymous
It’s always easier to give good advice than to follow it yourself. — Anonymous
It’s funny how we often know what’s good for others, but struggle to apply it to ourselves. Parents tell their kids not to eat too much candy or to go to bed early, even if they don’t always follow their own advice. Coaches know what’s best for their clients, but it’s harder for them to coach themselves. Doctors tell patients not to smoke, even if they struggle to quit themselves. It’s human nature.
So, don’t wait for the perfect moment to start. If you think something is worth doing, do it today. There’s no better time than now.
Key Takeaways
- Practice making decisions every day, even small ones.
- Structure your decision-making process and question your routines.
- Simplify your day by removing unnecessary tasks—do less, but do it better.
- Apply the advice you’d give others to yourself, starting now.
Action Steps
- Pick up the phone instead of sending an email for your next important decision.
- Review your daily tasks—what can you delegate or remove?
- Identify the 20% of your work that brings 80% of your results, and focus on that.
Reflection
- What’s one decision you can make right now, without overthinking?
- Which tasks could you remove from your day to make space for what really matters?
- Are you following your own advice, or just giving it to others?
Pierre-Henry Soria
#Decision Making #Intuition #Productivity #Quick Thinking #Self-Improvement #Tasks #Time-Management