How decision paralysis – the inability to make a decision or take action – creates anxiety, and expert advice on ways to overcome it
- Whether it is which outfit to wear or the school to send your child to, we all must make choices. Here is how not to let the fear of failure stand in the way
- Limiting choices, setting a deadline, spending time in nature and embracing uncertainty can help arrive at a decision, experts suggest
Stephanie has been in a quandary for over a month now. She wants to get a new phone, but she cannot decide between a Samsung or an iPhone. Her determination to make the right choice has her locked in limbo and she is still using her old phone.
Esther, on the other hand, is standing in front of her packed wardrobe unable to decide what to wear to work. It is cool with a chance of rain, so she considers a jumper, but she worries she will get sweaty walking from the train to her Hong Kong office.
Overwhelmed by choice and the multiple variables, she feels panicked as the minutes tick by, and she is certain to be late to work.
Both Stephanie and Esther (not their real names) are clients at clinical psychologist Dr Cindy Chan’s private practice. Both are experiencing decision paralysis, the inability to make a decision or take action.
“We are seeing more of it. I don’t know if it’s only in Hong Kong. People can go to an online shop and look at something 100 times without clicking the buy button. Exasperated by choice, they can delay the decision forever,” says Chan.
