In deciding what to write about this week I had this thought, “On average, how many decisions does a person make in a day?” What’s your guess? 100, 200, 500…more? Yes, I know I have the luxury of thinking about such things now. Being retired I have more time to think, to do things, and to choose the things I do. And my decision making has changed considerably in recent years, too. Just in the sheer number I have to make, the speed in which they have to be made, and maybe most importantly, how they impact my life.
When I worked, especially in teaching, I could have easily made a thousand decisions in a day, or so it seemed. From the moment students arrived, to the minute school let out, conscious choices had to be made and usually on the spot. Anything from gauging students’ understanding of new concepts, to monitoring classroom behavior, to offering guidance to parents, even with plans in place, everyday required being in the present moment, deciding on a course of action, and adjusting when necessary. Today’s widely used term “pivot” accurately describes what any given day was like, a huge amount of pivoting.
From my journal: December 17 , 2014, Newbury Park, California
“…laughing at recess about how many decisions we have to make every minute…every hour…every day…a lot!”
From inconsequential to life-altering, not all decisions are equal. Choosing which socks to put on does not take the same amount of brain power, nor is it as impactful as choosing to take a job in a new location. Some decisions are just a blip in our day, while others can shape our entire lives.
So how does decision making actually work? Many of our choices are made at the same time and are automatic using the data stored subconsciously in our brains. This information is labeled “good” or “bad”. Something good may be seeing your pup greet you at the door and you decide to pat his head. Something bad may be seeing a moving vehicle swerve into your lane and you choose to move out of the way. Chances are you’d make these decisions without having to consider all options. According to Gerald Zaltman, a Harvard Business School professor, 95% of our mental action using knowledge and understanding gained through thought, experience, and our senses happens in the subconscious mind. And it’s a good thing because otherwise our brains might go berserk if they had to weigh each and every decision, one by one.
Being skilled at decision making is a real plus. It not only helps you feel more in control, but more confident, and more analytical, which all lead to better choices. What decision making really comes down to is problem solving. And a good way to hone these skills is to get all the facts, consider options, weigh the pros and cons, ask questions, pare down options, and be flexible.
My days of having to constantly make split second decisions may be over, or at least drastically reduced, however some conscious choices are still essential to my overall well-being. These include my decisions on eating, exercising, connecting with loved ones, coping with stress, and enjoying my time. My daily decisions now may be more like which route to walk with Kippers each morning, what to make for dinner each night, or what to write for my blog each week, but they all keep me moving forward, engaged, and leading a purposeful life.
So getting back to my earlier question, how many decisions do you think an adult usually makes in a day? Various sources suggest that it’s around 35,000! Whew! That’s a whole lot of mental gymnastics going on! But now that I’ve chosen next week’s blog topic, I have one less decision to make…that leaves me with only 34,999 to go!
A Journal Journey 