Jumping into something head-first without weighing the pros and cons isn’t logical.

Sure, you want to say, “Heck yes!” without a second thought when your bestie suggests ditching work for sangrias at 9am Monday morning. Nonetheless, a careful risk-reward analysis tells you to wait until after work to let loose with your sisters.

Contemplativeness and consideration are indeed strengths…until they’re not.

Thinking about actions before we take them is common sense. Overthinking those actions is an entirely different story. Doing so often leads to “analysis paralysis,” halting your personal (and often professional) growth.

What Is Analysis Paralysis?

Analysis paralysis flies in the face of having an action-oriented mindset. Often, someone (or a group) will have access to so much information that it causes them to overthink a situation or decision, stifling them from taking action.

In short, analysis paralysis is the foundation of procrastination. Anxiety is frequently a root cause of this indecisive behavior.

Below, we’ll offer five productivity tips to help overcome analysis paralysis and better harness your action-oriented mindset:

1. Practice Mindfulness.

A mindfulness practice like meditation, yoga, or other physical activities can counteract overthinking.

Incorporating a mindfulness practice into your life can help develop your awareness of distressing or distracting thoughts without reverting to negative self-talk or criticism.

2. Learn To Accept Outcomes.

According to experts, following these two steps will help with accepting a decision and overcoming analysis paralysis:

● Accept the resulting discomfort and learn to sit with it. Your thoughts will veer toward analyzing and thinking. Work toward disrupting this thought pattern by acknowledging you’re unsure you know the correct answer:

For instance, imagine you’re planning a getaway with your friend group. Realize there are no perfect spots but plenty of good ones. Take just one minute, choose a getaway destination that’s caught your attention, and book the trip–no matter how uncomfortable you feel with your choice.

● Learn to accept your choice:

Say your ladies’ weekend destination has a few flaws. It’s not a big deal. You’re with your sisters, and you’ll make the most of it because your friend group is the shining example of #squadgoals.

3. Learn To Embrace Uncertainty.

One thing is certain in life: we all deal with uncertainty.

Every decision you make will come with the question of “what if” that nags at the back of your mind–especially if things don’t end up going how you want. All you can do to prepare is fine-tune your decision-making strategies to ensure you put the appropriate amount of thought into a choice, then move forward.

4. Gain Insights Into What’s Impeding Your Action-Oriented Mindset.

Learning why you have analysis paralysis can help you determine the best solution. It may stem from previous trauma where you made a decision where the results haunt you.

You could also be concerned about the judgment of others if you make an “incorrect” decision, especially if it can affect others.

Try to practice self-awareness if you analyze and research options for even minor decisions. Tapping into these moments can help you understand the “why” of your indecisiveness, helping with taking action to break these patterns.

5. Work With A Therapist.

Working with a therapist can help you overcome your penchant for indecision by developing coping strategies, especially if anxiety or depression factor into the problem.

A therapist can also help you identify the root causes of your analysis paralysis, digging deeper into your psyche to work towards healing.

Did you find our productivity tips helpful? If so, contact The I’m Loving Me Project to develop additional tools to overcome your analysis paralysis and be your most action-oriented self.