Decisive Action: Encouraging Progress with One Good Choice

Who Can Benefit?

This strategy is particularly useful for individuals who struggle with motivation, decision paralysis, perfectionism, or procrastination. By focusing on making one solid decision, you can break free from indecision and move forward with confidence.

How to Implement the Decisive Action Strategy

  1. Identify the Problem: Start by writing down the problem you’re facing in the center of a piece of paper (e.g., “I don’t know what to do after university”).
  2. Brainstorm Ideas: Branch out from the problem with any ideas that come to mind. Don’t worry about whether they’re perfect or even good solutions—just get all possible ideas down on paper (e.g., “Work in a shop,” “Volunteer at a charity,” “Apply for a grad scheme,” “Seek entry-level work related to my degree”).
  3. Select a Few Options: Choose a couple of ideas that appeal to you. Don’t overthink it—just pick a few decent options that seem manageable and interesting.
  4. Break Down the Steps: For each selected idea, brainstorm small, actionable steps you can take today to start working toward that goal. These should be manageable and measurable. For example:
    • Work in a Shop: Apply for one job on Indeed each week.
    • Volunteer at a Charity: Research interesting charities and email one per week about volunteer opportunities.
    • Apply for a Grad Scheme: Research potential schemes, select one, and outline the application process.
    • Seek Entry-Level Work Related to Your Degree: Research businesses in your field and check for openings weekly.
  5. Commit to Action: Schedule these small steps into your routine, and focus on completing them without worrying about whether they are the absolute best decisions. The goal is to create forward momentum.

The Science Behind Decisive Action

Making decisions, setting intentions, and creating goals engage the prefrontal cortex, which helps reduce anxiety and worry. Decision-making also counters the brain’s tendency toward negative impulses, typically managed by the striatum. This process not only changes how you perceive challenges but also calms the limbic system, which regulates emotions. Strengthening the prefrontal cortex through regular decision-making can help rebalance the brain’s circuitry, making it easier to overcome decision paralysis and maintain forward momentum.

Reference

Korb, A. (2015). The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time. New Harbinger Publications.

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