3 tips for making decisions without being impulsive and with clarity

DID YOU BUY THE STUFF YOU DON’T NEED AGAIN?

Lead a life of contentment by defining your needs

Illustration by Daigo

We have to make choices every day.

What to buy?

What colour?

How much?

And so on..

We buy stuff online and it piles up in our homes sitting idol.

Unused, unnecessary. Unwanted.

It surely reflects in our lives too. With more severe consequences.

Things don’t have emotions, we attach ours to them.

But when it comes to a relationship both of the parties are emotionally involved.

It is more complicated and intricate. Whether it be a relationship or a buying decision you make on a daily basis.

It calls for Clarity in the decision, in foot forward to avoid access to anything.

There is a notion of goodness in being impulsive while making decisions.

It seems right, especially when accepting money or ordering limited-edition merchandise online.

However, it is not a wise choice to be impulsive in decision-making.

Making decisions without impulsivity and gaining clarity is essential for effective choices.

Effective choices lead to a less complicated and minimalistic life.

By minimalist I don’t mean a home without furniture, It only means that you have more of what you need and less of what you want.

How can you avoid this chaos?

Use these three effective tricks that can make you make more informed decisions rather than impulsive ones.

The point to be noted though, I don’t want to promote a scarcity mindset through this blog.

Keep your dreams big.

Aim for the finer things in life.

But the goal is that you don’t buy it because your neighbour bought it.

You buy it because you understand, like and love it.

Pause and Reflect:

I read this in James Clear\’s book — Atomic Habits, and it has stuck with me since.

Wait until you make any buying decision.

If you have urges to spend more on stuff you don’t need, pause.

Let the urge surpass.

Wait for 24 hours and reflect if you really need the thing that you were about to buy.

Neuroscientific studies have shown that the brain activates the default mode network when you pause and reflect.

It allows introspection by enhancing self-awareness and fostering better decision-making.

Take a moment to pause and reflect on the decision at hand.

Consider Long-Term Impact:

Would you go for stuff that is temporarily fulfilling?

OR would sign up for a thing that is most likely to give you long-term satisfaction?

A cheap Zara coat or Burberry trench coat that will last for generations.

Our long-term decision-making ability continues to evolve until the age of mid-20s.

Learning the long-term consequences of decisions and taking responsibility for them is an ongoing process.

Mature thinking.

Evaluate the potential consequences of the decision in the long run.

Gather Information:

Be interested in a particular thing.

It is always wise to gather information rather than stuff.

I have friends who click on every buy button online and pick up a truckload of stuff from the mall.

I joke about it saying; “If they excavate your home after 2000 years, they will find samples of every item mankind has ever used in the 21st century.

He sits in the middle of stuff he has gathered, it seems like the wall of things can collapse anytime.

He never uses all of it.

The is one friend, who is a choosy buyer.

He is well-read, well-informed and has a lot of clarity.

He carefully studies what he wants in life and things that would genuinely impact his standard of living.

His house is an interesting place.

He has collected items from daily needs to show pieces and works of art that are spectacular and showcase his inquisitive nature.

The things he has collected are conversation starters and lead to deeper relationships with himself and others.

It’s less confusing to meet this guy.

Sorted.

There is abundant information available in the age of information.

It doubles every 2 years (According to data)

I am sure, you will not be short on it before making a well-informed decision.

Collect relevant information and consider different perspectives before making a choice.


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