You’re staring at the menu at a restaurant. You’ve checked the reviews, asked the server for recommendations, and gone back and forth between two dishes at least five times. You don’t want to pick the wrong thing. What if there’s something better? What if you regret your choice?

Sound familiar?

For many people, decision-making is an everyday challenge, whether it’s choosing what to eat or making major life choices like buying a house, changing careers, or deciding whether to have kids. And while it’s normal to put thought into big decisions, for perfectionists, overthinkers, and those with anxiety or OCD, making choices can feel paralyzing.

So, let’s talk about how to break free from the fear of making the wrong choice and start making decisions with more confidence.

Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?

If you struggle with decision-making anxiety, it’s not just about the choice itself—it’s about what emotion you’re trying to avoid.

• Are you trying to escape the possibility of regret?

• Are you afraid of making a mistake and feeling guilt or shame?

• Are you worried about disappointing others with your choice?

Overthinking and indecision are often fueled by the belief that there is a "right" choice—one that will prevent discomfort, regret, or failure. But the reality? There is no perfect choice. And chasing that illusion only keeps you stuck.

Behaviors That Keep You Stuck in Decision Paralysis

If you struggle with decision anxiety, you may notice these patterns:

✅ Excessive Research – Spending way too much time gathering information, reading reviews, and comparing options in search of certainty.

✅ Reassurance-Seeking – Asking others what they would do or deferring to someone else’s opinion instead of trusting your own.

✅ Avoidance or Delaying the Decision – Putting off making a choice to avoid the discomfort of committing.

✅ Second-Guessing – Even after making a decision, wondering if it was the right one and mentally “undoing” it in your head.

Does any of this sound like you? If so, let’s talk about how to break free.

How to Stop Overthinking and Start Deciding

If decision anxiety is keeping you stuck, it’s time to challenge the belief that you need certainty to move forward.

1. Set a Time Limit for Decisions

Not every choice needs endless deliberation. The amount of time you spend making a decision should be proportional to its importance.

• Small choices (what to eat, what to wear): Decide in 30 seconds.

• Medium choices (what to buy, weekend plans): Give yourself 10-15 minutes.

• Big choices (career moves, major purchases): Set a reasonable deadline and stick to it.

Here’s the surprising truth: The more time you spend analyzing, the more uncertain you’ll feel. Why? Because instead of clarity, you end up with more options that seem good—and suddenly, it's even harder to see the "right" one. The same happens when you ask too many people for their opinions.

More voices = more confusion.

At some point, thinking more doesn’t lead to a better choice—it just leads to more overthinking.

You might wondering…but Jenny, what if I really do need more time to decide?

If more time will help, give yourself a deadline—and stick to it.

But…also ask yourself:
✔ Is this extra time bringing me closer to a decision, or just keeping me stuck?
✔ What specific information am I still missing, and how will I know when I have enough?
✔ If I had to decide right now, what would I choose?

Clarity doesn’t always come before action—sometimes it follows it. Set a time limit, make the best choice you can with what you know, and move forward.

2. Accept That Mistakes Are Inevitable

It’s human nature to want to avoid mistakes—especially when they could cause discomfort or impact our loved ones. But here’s the truth: you cannot avoid all mistakes in life.

Instead of trying to control for every possible misstep, learn to shift your mindset to allowing mistakes.

Why?
✔ It saves you time and energy. Less time stuck = more time living your life.
✔ It helps you take action. Progress happens through movement, not endless analysis.
✔ Mistakes help you grow. Everyone makes them—so why should you be the exception?

You are always doing the best you can with the information you have at the time. And even if you make a choice you later regret, you will handle it.

3. Use the 5-Second Rule to Take Action

I’ve been listening to Mel Robbins a lot lately, and she has some great life hacks for getting unstuck. One of them is the 5-4-3-2-1 Rule.

Here’s how it works:

The moment you notice yourself hesitating on a decision, count down from five. When you hit "1," take action. Make the choice.

Why does this work? It interrupts overthinking and gives you a cue to act before anxiety talks you out of it. Even if the action isn’t perfect, progress beats paralysis every time.

Practicing Small Decisions to Build Confidence

Practicing making quick decision is something that I practice in my own life.

And I’ve noticed that restaurants are the perfect place to practice decision-making.

I can be the person who agonizes over what to order—reading reviews, asking the server, going back and forth on my options, trying to avoid regret. And even after ordering, I still wasn’t sure if I had made the “right” choice.

I realize, this is such a small thing in the grand scheme of life. But it’s a great opportunity to practice small changes.

When I go out to eat, I challenge myself to scan the menu quickly, pick something, and commit. No reviews, no reassurance. Could I end up with a meal I don’t love? Sure. But I’ll survive.

And the bigger lesson? Even if I make the wrong choice, I can live with it.

Practicing small decisions like this can help retrain your brain to tolerate uncertainty, making it easier to apply the same mindset to bigger choices.

Final Thoughts: Relief Comes After the Decision, Not Before

Indecision isn’t protecting you—it’s keeping you stuck. And the truth is, the relief you’re searching for won’t come from researching more or waiting for the perfect answer. The relief comes after you decide.

So the next time you find yourself spiraling over a choice, ask yourself:

➡️ What am I avoiding by not deciding?
➡️ What else am I giving up by staying stuck?
➡️ Will more time really give me a better answer?

And then, give yourself permission to just decide.

Struggling With Decision Anxiety? Let’s Work on It Together.

If decision-making anxiety is holding you back from living your life fully, we can help.

We offer individual therapy (for those in Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota) —so you can learn the exact tools we teach our clients to stop overthinking and start living with confidence.

Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.