#2: A Strategy to Overcome Overthinking

Avoid overthinking and analysis paralysis by getting your ideas out of your head and onto a calendar.

Flipping a coin is a fast way to make a non-consequential decision. But what about making a decision that might be more consequential? A great strategy is to get it out of your head and onto a calendar. Decide to take action as a way to gather information.

Try it 8 times by a deadline. This strategy might not seem fast, but the motivation and information that come from quick action are often faster than pondering the ins and outs for a couple of weeks.

Eight is a good number because it naturally breaks down into a manageable schedule: 1x per week for two months, 2x per week for a month, or every day for a week with a bonus day to pull it all together.

A deadline is important to maintain continuity. Without it, knowledge will fade, and each attempt will feel like the first time.

For example, this is my 2nd post on Substack. I’m still unsure if writing a weekly blog is a good idea, but I don’t want to think about it too much. So, I’ve committed to doing at least eight posts (1x per week for two months) to decide if I want to keep with it.

Also, I used the 8x approach when seeing if I wanted to swim four years ago. As a result, swimming became a central part of my week and life.

Learning by doing is an effective method for gathering information and understanding emotions related to the decision. Because we’ll more naturally talk about what we are up to, it encourages gathering info as we talk to people. (“Oh, my sister did something like that a few years ago. She said what was important…”.) After several iterations, unknowns and issues often resolve, and repeated actions reduce our biases, concerns, fears, and hesitations.

Basically, this approach helps us decide by taking action and learning our preferences by experience instead of thinking.