Episode #364 – Why Analysis Paralysis is Getting Worse

This is episode 364 of the Brilliant Balance podcast, and today we’re talking about analysis paralysis. Probably my least favorite game to play is what I call “paralyzed in indecision” or “analysis paralysis.” But boy, is it a game I play a lot! In fact, I was thinking about a recent travel experience I had as I was preparing for today’s episode.

Tell me if you’ve ever been in this situation: You’re traveling for work by yourself, and it’s not one of those trips where there’s a planned group dinner, like at a conference. It’s more like solo travel, and you’re in town on your own. This happens to me sometimes when I’m speaking in a city other than my own. You get to your hotel after a long day filled with logistics, and it’s time to figure out what to have for dinner. Honestly, this used to be easy for me because, for years, I’d just order room service. I wasn’t really that interested in sitting in a restaurant by myself. Every now and then I would, but it was so much easier to get room service, pick one of the four items on the menu, and enjoy a meal in my room.

But now, as you know if you travel for work, room service has kind of faded into the background because apps like DoorDash have taken over. It’s just too easy to get food delivered from anywhere nearby. Why would hotels put that kind of pressure on themselves when they know guests can order from anywhere? The problem with that, though, is that there are suddenly so many options. You’re no longer limited to the four things on the room service menu—it’s like infinite choices, infinite types of food. Even the process of ordering through one of those apps stresses me out. You have to pick the type of food, decide how healthy you want it, how much you want to spend, and how long you’re willing to wait. It’s like 65 decisions just to get a salad for dinner.

So, this particular evening, I was in my hotel, changing my mind over and over, rethinking what would be the best option, how I wanted to feel the next day, and what I actually felt like eating. I was scrolling through multiple food delivery apps—some I didn’t even have accounts for, but it seemed like a good idea to open one. Every now and then, I’d catch myself thinking, “Do I even want to do this? Is this even worth it? By the time it gets here, will I still feel like eating?”

Ultimately, on that particular trip, I just gave up. I couldn’t make a decision, so I just ate a bar I had in my bag from earlier in the day. Not a great ending, right? The only reason it ended like that was because there were just too many options. And it’s not like I’m bad at making decisions—I can usually make decisions—but even small decisions can start to feel monumental when you’re already juggling a high cognitive load.

For those of us who chronically live in a state of balancing careers, families, and community involvement, the weight of seemingly small decisions can push us over the edge. We can reach a point of what’s commonly called analysis paralysis—this state of overthinking where, instead of making a decision, we get stuck and make no decision at all. That inaction becomes the decision.

I think this hits high achievers particularly hard because they’re bombarded with decisions daily. As leaders, both at work and at home, we’re constantly making big and small decisions. This can ramp up the overall mental load, and the pressure to make the right choice can increase mental fatigue. This often leads to a low-grade mental exhaustion because our brains become overstimulated from the constant stream of complex decisions.

In those situations, even minor choices—like what to order for dinner or which email to tackle next—can feel overwhelming, and we shut down.

So, I thought it would be helpful to explore the causes of analysis paralysis and what we can do to address it, allowing us to make faster, better decisions with more freedom. Because at the end of the day, making decisions quickly and confidently increases our productivity and influence.

Let’s look at a few causes of analysis paralysis. The first cause is having too many choices, which multiplies across different areas of our lives. We manage multiple roles—at work, at home, and in the community—and each role comes with its own set of decisions. When you combine those domains, it can feel exponential.

The second cause is perfectionism. Many high-achieving women feel a strong need to get it right, whether that’s in their professional roles, families, or societal expectations. Making a decision means closing the door on other options, and for someone driven by perfectionism, that loss can feel monumental. The stakes feel incredibly high, and this can keep us stuck in indecision, trying to keep all options open.

Finally, high cognitive load from multitasking plays a significant role. Our brains can only handle so much before they reach a point of overload. When we’re rapidly shifting between tasks and decisions, we eventually hit a wall. By the time you get home and someone asks what’s for dinner, you’re mentally spent and unable to think clearly.

So, what can we do? I’ll offer four strategies to combat analysis paralysis.

1. Limit your options. Reducing the number of choices you have to make can make decision-making easier. Pre-set a few dinner plans for the week, delegate decisions at work, or limit the choices you consider when shopping or making smaller decisions.
2. Set deadlines for decisions. Give yourself a specific timeframe to make a decision. Holding onto decisions for too long increases mental strain. The longer you hold a decision in your mind, the heavier it becomes, so setting deadlines can be a useful strategy.
3. Practice mindful breathing or take breaks. Overstimulation from juggling too many things can lead to poor decision-making. Incorporating mindfulness practices, even something as simple as deep breathing or stepping away from your desk for a few minutes, can clear mental space.
4. Create systems for recurring decisions. Automating or routinizing recurring decisions can free up mental energy for more important ones. Whether it’s meal planning, outfit rotations, or a pre-set morning routine, systems can help reduce decision fatigue.

Hopefully, these strategies help you reduce analysis paralysis and allow you to make decisions with more ease.

If today’s episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. I always enjoy reading your comments or reviews. It’s so gratifying to hear how the podcast is landing with you. So, if you’ve never left a review, it would mean the world to me, and it really helps new listeners discover the show.

That’s all I have for you today. Until next time, let’s be brilliant!