Do you ever find yourself caught in a relentless cycle of decisions that just seem to drain your mental energy and leave us feeling overwhelmed?
It seems like, especially as women and mothers, we often chalk it up as just being “part of the process”, but as months and months go by, we find ourselves in a pit of mental exhaustion we can’t get out of.
The truth is, we can create better systems to alleviate this burden and reclaim our peace of mind.
The answer lies in developing a process for making decisions that allows us to be responsive rather than reactive. So today, we're talking about how to make better decisions and why it's important for your personal and professional growth.
The Dreaded Decision-Fatigue
One of the hardest parts about being a mom with a business is the sheer volume of decisions we have to make daily. From managing our households to steering our businesses, every choice demands our attention. This constant decision-making can lead to mental fatigue, causing us to have uncertainty.
The result?
We end up feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and disconnected from the very goals we’re striving to achieve. This uncertainty makes us react impulsively rather than respond thoughtfully.
Reactivity vs. Responsiveness
Something happens and we immediately react to it. Someone says something and we immediately say something back.
But, the way we live and feel is a product of the decisions and choices we have made. A lot of times that reactivity shows up in choices that may seem harmless at first, like snapping at the kids, but the more it becomes normalized, the more it leads to bigger feelings of guilt and resentment.
We react to the stimuli around us—whether it’s a drop in revenue, a team member’s request, or even our child’s demands—without taking the time to process our emotions and thoughts.
Take my recent Private Partnership client, for example, who noticed a drop in her monthly revenue and immediately started brainstorming ways to bring in quick cash. Her reaction was fueled by fear, and while her ideas were valid, they were born out of reactivity.
I encouraged her to step back, observe her thoughts, and challenge them. We then discussed a response that aligned with her long-term business goals rather than a quick fix.
After walking through this process she realized that she didn’t want to take the same actions that she initially thought, because of the impact it would have on the balance and peace we’ve created in her life.
Quick fixes create more decisions that we have to make in the future and can lead to outcomes we don’t want. The more we can create certainty or have dedicated processes, the easier it feels.
So, how do we become somebody that is responsive instead of reactive? How do we make better decisions to get better results? And the answer is simply using the space between the stimulus and the response.
A Decision-Making Process With Moms in Mind
I'm a firm believer in the importance of structure, routines, habits, systems, processes, and workflows. These elements create and set expectations for our brains, helping us know how to respond in various situations.
To help you make better decisions, I want to share a simple process that you can implement in your life and business that allows you to pause, reflect, and respond thoughtfully.
Step Away: When faced with a decision, take a moment to step back, step out, or step away. This could be physical—leaving the room—or mental—taking a few deep breaths before responding.
Identify Feelings and Thoughts: Once you've stepped away, identify the feelings and thoughts you have about the situation. Are you feeling afraid, angry, or inadequate? What thoughts are driving those feelings?
Remember the Bigger Goal: Take a step back and consider your bigger goals, values, and vision. Who do you want to be, and what do you want to achieve in the long term? This perspective will guide you toward making decisions that align with your true intentions.
Respond in Alignment: Finally, respond in a way that aligns with your bigger goals and the person you want to become. This might mean delaying a decision, asking for more time, or simply saying no to something that doesn’t serve your long-term vision.
Taking the Next Step in Your Decision-Making Journey
By implementing a more thought-led process, you can alleviate some of the mental load that comes with decision-making, make better choices, and ultimately achieve better results in your life and business. Remember, it's not just about making decisions—it's about making decisions that align with who you are and where you want to go.
If you need support in developing better decision-making processes for your business and want to create a life of peace, calm, and freedom while continuing to scale, consider joining the Mom Founders Inner Circle and unite with the other women who are ready to amplify their life and business in this space.
Comments