Five Tips to Free Your Mind from Analysis Paralysis

Jen B. Green

As creators, choices abound in our daily lives, from which subgenre we should write in to which software we should use to which companies we should publish with. We also make business decisions and decisions for our personal lives. And while we like to think we have unlimited mental energy, that isn’t true. All those decisions take a bite out of our store of mental energy, whether small, like what clothes to wear, to larger, like deciding on a major plot direction.

A Google search for the term “analysis paralysis” gives over 58 million results, but a simple definition is the feeling of being unable to make a decision because of overthinking. Also known as decision fatigue, analysis paralysis can stem from anxiety, a fear of mistakes, imposter syndrome, or a glut of information and options. This may leave you struggling to name characters, feeling unclear on the next steps in the story, procrastinating on a preorder page, missing deadlines or opportunities, or just working much harder at basic tasks than usual. 

Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the effects of analysis paralysis.

1. Automate what you can. Plan out outfits, like Steve Jobs’s famous repeated identical outfits; routines, such as weekly cleaning or exercise plans; or menus—create a calendar for meals that stretches a week or even a month. Automate tasks for your author business as well. You can batch-schedule social media posts or make a checklist for releases (see IAM’s customizable countdown checklist for a successful book launch to get started). Avoid spending your energy on simple decisions you can take off your plate. 
2. Make important decisions when you are fresh. The time to approach those tricky decisions is when you’re feeling your best. This could be first thing in the morning or after your first block of writing is done—whenever you feel well rested and recharged.
3. Limit input. Set limits for how much you’ll allow yourself to consider a particular decision, perhaps by time or number of options. A pros and cons list can help identify what is important to you; then find a couple of options that work with those priorities and make a choice. For example, if you need to select a subscription service, the top three options that meet your needs are all you need to compare. Decide and move forward. 
4. Stop researching once you’ve decided. Continuing to second-guess yourself significantly increases dissatisfaction, even if your decision is working. This can be hard to shut down, but spinning your mental wheels doesn’t help your progress.
5. Remember that these decisions have no perfect solution. Although we long for easy, cookie-cutter concerns and clear-cut answers, life is messy. Perfection is the enemy of progress, and we all want progress! 

Feelings of overwhelm and uncertainty are part of living. If you get stuck, remind yourself that it’s temporary, and take a few deep breaths. Many times, taking a break, consulting a close friend, or sleeping on the problem can help. Be kind to yourself, and remember other good decisions you’ve made. Your decision might not be perfect, but neither are we—and a “good-enough” decision is still good.

Jen B. Green