Simplifying A-Z: D-Decisions

The alphabet of organizing! Or, how to simplify your life one letter at a time!

D – Decisions

If you’re like me, you love when a decision has been made, but you agonize over the making of it! There’s a story my mom likes to tell about me when I was little. She would let me pick out a piece of candy at the checkout of the grocery store and I would proceed to weigh the pros and cons of my potential enjoyment of each piece of candy. So much so that my mom would tell me “you’re not buying a car, just pick a piece of candy so we can go”. Can you imagine how hard it was for me to buy my first car?? So it’s safe to say that I have a bit of difficulty with making decisions! That being said, once I have finally made a decision, it’s like a huge weight has lifted and I never look back and wonder if it’s the right thing to do!

Some people are quick decision-makers and some painstakingly slow, like me. However, decisions have to be made in life. That’s just the way it is! Whether they’re small decisions like what to have for dinner or life-altering ones like what job to take, or they lie somewhere in between, like what to do with grandmas stuff once she has passed away, they must be made with care and attention.

Not everyone feels this way though. Some people are so paralyzed by decision-making that they simply don’t do it, which leads to all sorts of problems. One of those problems being clutter; clutter is simply delayed decisions. If you’re not sure what to do with the mail when it comes in so you put it in a pile on the kitchen counter, you are delaying the decisions of what needs to be done with it (pay, toss, respond, file, etc). If your closet is packed with stuff you haven’t worn in ages and you don’t know where to put the clean laundry , so you just leave it in the laundry basket, you are delaying cleaning out your closet and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. There are endless examples of delayed decisions in everything we do.

Sometimes deciding tasks become so big and overwhelming that people pretend they don’t exist. But there’s good news! You don’t have to go it alone. If decisions are tough, ask for help! I like to ask for people’s opinions when I have big decisions to make. Often times someone will bring up something I hadn’t thought about which will help sway me one way or another. If things have gotten out of hand and there are just too many decisions to be made, ask for help! This is why my profession exists! We help people make decisions they have trouble making on their own. We come armed with pertinent questions and scenarios that will help jog your decision-making skills. The best part is, that once the decision has been made, there is instant relief! What if I make the wrong decision? You ask. Good question! What constitutes a wrong decision? Getting rid of something and then missing it? If you fear the second thought monster you can always test your decisions out first. Instead for giving your childhood teas set to a charity, try putting it in a box and keeping it out of sight for 6 months. After the 6 months are up evaluate whether you’ve missed it. If not, let it go completely, if you have, find a way to use it (or display it) so it will bring you nostalgic joy. There’s no use keeping joy in a box in your basement!

So I bet you’re wondering if my decision-making skills have improved since I’ve become a Professional Organizer. The answer is Yes and NO. I am great at helping others make decisions but I still have trouble picking out a good candy bar (Kit Kats, Butterfinger, Twix…). After all, the fate of dessert is at stake!

Get help with overwhelming decisions
Not every decisions is life-altering
Once you make the decision you WILL feel better

Tags: Decision Making