Choices, Choices

I was trying to concentrate on thing #1 today while waiting for a phone meeting on thing #2 while thinking more about thing #3, and those were just work-related things.  On my to-do list were more things and in my head even more.  Typical, right?

I suddenly decided to Google "analysis paralysis." Out of the blue. 

And this popped up. 

I often think about all the choices that women have now to do or be anything we want. In the U.S. our options are limitless, which makes it hard to decide. The information we have access to that will help us narrow down our options makes it harder to decide.  

I spend a lot of time thinking and working up to making decisions, weighing all my options as the clock ticks forward. This is partly why certain home projects haven't been completed, or why I don't finish planning a vacation. Weighing the options, analyzing the information, trying keep everything in balance.

Even dinner becomes a multi-layered decision.  Fresh or frozen?  If I take the time to make a dinner from scratch, what will give? Should I make enough for the whole week? Will I eat the leftovers? Does Salty D. like Thai curry or should I make him something different?

Seriously. Stop. Swirling.

My to-do list has several items that begin with the words "Decide on..." alongside decision due dates. And yet -- *sigh.*

So I liked what these chicks blogged about decision making.  

I get what they and others say about all this information overload influencing decision-making abilities. But, I was a waffler way before Twitter came along.  And if I weren't distracted by bright shiny things once in a while I would not have discovered some of the joys in my life.

There are just so many options. Sometimes I wish there weren't. Isn't that weird? I could be celebrating all the choices we have and not waffling about them.

Now, there are so many options for dinner, and I can't decide what I want to be, and I could be anything. I could cook anything. And the clock is ticking.

Comments

[lg]

I sit down on Sundays with a notebook, my recipe file folder, cooking magazines, my family's weekly calendar, and a big cup of coffee. I plan menus and do my shopping list at the same time. It takes a half hour tops and is actually fun (I like to cook and family eats anything and enjoys exotic flavors/ recipes as much as standbys like meatloaf. It would be different if I considered cooking a chore or had picky eaters).

It takes the stress out of the week. Some days I make dinner, some days it's my husband, some days we abandon the plan and eat leftovers or go out. However, having a plan is huge -- decisions are made once a week!

I tend to make decisions quickly and not second-guess myself so I cannot relate to the other stuff. But maybe my "trick" will help with the cooking part?

[KtP]

Get out of my head, woman. I definitely get analysis paralysis and when I have more time, I'll look at the links you posted. I definitely agree though - there is such a thing as too many choices, and that can be daunting and scary.