What is analysis paralysis?
I like to think of analysis paralysis as becoming paralyzed from overthinking, which further leads to the inability to make a decision or take action. It’s paralysis by over-analysis.
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by your thoughts that you feel like you suffocate yourself and instead of breathing through it and trying to accomplish things task by task, you completely give up and walk away? That’s the best way I can describe how analysis paralysis feels.
Your over-analysis of a decision you have to make or goal you have to accomplish actually prevents you from accomplishing what you set out to do.
If you have ever experienced extreme anxiety, I’m sure you can relate and have gone through this before.
Here are 8 Tips to Overcome Analysis Paralysis:
#1. Ground Yourself
What works for me is momentarily removing myself from the situation and doing some type of self-care activity, such as taking a 15-minute walk to regroup and clear my head or simply doing some breathing exercises. Don’t go overboard and completely abandon whatever it is you are working on–that just adds to the analysis paralysis!
Check out my post on how to calm down
#2. Differentiate between the big and small decisions or actions
Ask yourself, how important is this action or step toward making a decision or completing a project? Give your energy toward the level of importance of each component in relation to the outcome that you desire. If one component is critical to that overall goal you need to accomplish, give that the most energy, and categorize accordingly.
#3. Know what your end goal is or what you’d like to achieve from making that decision
Having a clear outcome will only help you work through the analysis paralysis. It is also extremely helpful to have a clear outline of how you’re going to accomplish that goal or what’s involved in that decision.
Are your goals S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely)? Learn how to structure your goals for success, and grab my free S.M.A.R.T. goals worksheet below!
Tip #4 Don’t be a perfectionist
Perfectionism and overthinking go hand in hand. Perfectionists tend to naturally overanalyze, and this just adds to the analysis paralysis. Try limiting the amount of information you take in and lay off your tendency to micromanage and control every outcome.
#5 Set a hard time limit
Set a date for when you need to make your decision by or when you need to complete your project. Organize or create an outline and timeline to achieve your goal. I cannot stress enough how easy things can be and how much progress you can make when there’s order in place.
Related: S.M.A.R.T. Goals: How to Achieve Your Goals
#6 Pick something and go
Whether it’s an action step toward the project you’re trying to complete or a smaller decision that comes before the big decision, just do it. Procrastinating leads to more over-analyzing and contributes to the vicious cycle. Once you start doing something, it becomes a lot easier, and I’m sure you’ll feel a sense of relief once you actually get the ball rolling.
#7 Delegate the task(s) to someone else
This is one of my favorites because it’s something that I continuously have to work on. I have the “I can do it all” mentality, so I’m not the best at delegating tasks. By delegating, you may feel like you’ve taken yourself out of the project or out of the decision-making process, but if you’re shifting some responsibility to someone you trust, it will only propel you to take more steps toward your end goal. Working with someone else will also help you hold yourself accountable.
#8 Get the opinion of someone you trust but don’t get too many opinions
Everyone is going to have a different perspective and too many opinions will overwhelm you. Talk to maybe one to three people who you really trust and whose opinions you value. At the end of the day, whether other people’s perspectives affect you or not, your gut is going to tell you what you ultimately want to do. Only you know what’s best for you. You just need to gain the confidence to trust yourself!
I hope these tips help you tackle your analysis paralysis. Just remember, you can accomplish anything with a clear and calm mindset! 🙂
Related:
- How to Set Achievable Goals and CRUSH Them! S.M.A.R.T. Goals 101
- 41 Simple Self-Care Ideas for a Bad Day
- How to Calm Down in the Moment, 2 Minutes or Less
