We call this phenomenon of behavior “analysis paralysis”a condition where it is difficult to make decisions and act because you want to have everything controlled, measured and calculated, and the fear factor appears due to the uncertainty of not knowing how things are going to turn out.
Although being rational is an essential characteristic for the survival of the species, living permanently at that extreme can limit you to achieve your goals, advance in projects and decide more quickly.
Where does it come from?
Paralysis by analysis is an active form of procrastination. Unconsciously you get stuck in dilatory thinking, thinking about things, even insignificant, and not making decisions. Thus, you postpone it over and over again, and do not specify it.
In your fantasy (which is very different from imagination) you think you are moving forward, but in reality, which is the only concrete thing, you are not doing anything. Because all you can do is ruminate on the inside, but to act, nothing.
Psychology defines paralysis by analysis as a situation in which someone gets stuck imagining possible options, but without lowering or activating them; therefore, those ideas are not executed.
This difficulty in making decisions and acting is very especially in analytical and doubtful people. For example, if you are an analysis nerd, you will spend months and years studying the options in detail, while if you are doubtful, you will doubt so much that you will fall into inaction.
Main characteristics of people paralyzed from so much analysis
There are some common traits of people who rationalize in such a way that they stagnate:
- They overthink to the point of never getting to decide or act.
- They put off very simple decisions, such as what to wear to go to an interview or what to eat. Many let others decide for them.
- They focus too much on controlling the minute details, without seeing the big picture and the actions to get what they want to achieve.
- They are overwhelmed by doubt and by the feeling that they are self-sabotaging their lives. However, they continue in that wheel.
- They can be very capable people when they are led by someone who tells them what to do step by step; but they do not make decisions for themselves.
- They are afraid of being wrong, and they fear its consequences.
5 Strategies to Overcome Analysis Paralysis
If you suffer from analysis paralysis, you can use these strategies to overcome your condition, since it is a situation that is trained and re-educated:
1) Reflect and think what is the worst that can happen
Spending too much time overanalyzing things leads to catastrophic thinking. Instead, you can take time to reflect, write and draw solutions-focused alternatives: it will help you not only think, but transfer it to drawing, moving the body and anything else that is not rational. Here you will be shaping your mind, so that, instead of thinking about the perfect, it adopts the flexibility of achieving the possible.
2) Identify and overcome the fear of making decisions
If you are paralyzed by the analysis, it is possible that, underneath, there is a fear that is holding you back. The first step to overcoming it is to identify the underlying fear.
You can ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly, to find the bottom of the matter:
What do you fear will happen if you make the wrong decision?
What is the worst possible scenario?
What really worries you, and what can you put aside?
What are you afraid of?
From 1 to 10 (being the maximum), in what degree of fear are you experiencing that paralysis by analysis? If, for example, you are in 5, your next job will be to design minimal consecutive steps, to go from 5 to 6, and then from 6 to 7 and so on.
3) Give yourself a date to set and achieve your goals and reduce the amount of information you process
Another way is to set and achieve goals. An objective is a goal with a certain number of small actions, which, continued over time, will allow you to achieve something bigger.
Goals need to be specific, measurable, achievable, credible, and set with a specific deadline, day, and time.
This method is highly effective, since you will be able to divide the sections into minimal actions, easier to tackle, that will get you out of the paralysis of analyzing everything.
Start with something basic, doing the test with an objective: divide it into actions, execute them, mark them on a whiteboard or a very visual organization system when you have completed them, and you will see how each step will give you more confidence.
Complementarily, reduce the amount of information you process: It is proven that the more data you analyze, the more you tend to get paralyzed by analysis. So, you take smaller blocks of information, apply them by lowering them to a concrete plan, and run that stretch. Then you can continue with other complementary parts.
4) Try something different by changing routines
Possibly you have certain routines to think: moments, places, music, notes. A very effective way to begin to become more flexible is to change spaces and thought schemes.
You can connect diverse information, look for alternative solutions by talking about your ideas with people you trust and, in turn, very different from you, and associating ideas between what you listen to, read, see, feel and turn to in particular. Also, use technology with artificial intelligence to inspire you by creating lateral thinking ideas, new associations and investigating possible courses of action.
These initiatives will progressively lead you to stop feeling stuck for analyzing things, and start integrating the new with actions that, however small they may be, will already mean significant progress.
5) Increase confidence in you
A central aspect of analysis paralysis is a lack of trust. In addition to doing psychotherapy -for example, of the cognitive behavioral current that goes to the point and helps to put you into action-, taking courses, talking with people of action and coaching sessions with certified professionals, will encourage you to move from where you are. , to improve yourself and set challenges that will be new milestones in your life.
It is said that Leonardo Da Vinci suffered from analysis paralysis, and that is why his artistic production was not as fruitful as it could have been. It’s just that, under the fear of being wrong or receiving criticism, he felt overwhelmed just thinking about it. That’s why he spent years thinking about ideas, without putting them into practice. Of course, his work is an exceptional world heritage, and the fact of being multi-potential (he did many different disciplines with the same mastery), made him one of the most famous creators in history. Biographers report that he had moments of deep satisfaction and motivation, which impelled him to continue.
For you, it’s those same Leonardo moments that you can generate by staying positive and confident.
As if you had a telescope inside your mind, imagine yourself looking at the big picture. This will help you to leave your mental fixation on a particular point that you want to be perfect, and where you were paralyzed. By expanding your gaze you will see in the distance the possibilities of executing what you want.
Finally, create a small support team to turn to when you feel yourself relapsing into analysis paralysis, as this is long-standing behavior and you will need to get over it and move on. The encouragement of people who motivate you will be essential for you to advance.
And so, rest assured, the day will come when your mind will click, and you will have left behind those stages of paralysis by analysis, and you will go, directly and without hesitation, to those achievements that you so long for.
Facilitator and Executive Master Coach specialized in senior management, professionals and teams; mentor and professional communicator; international speaker; author of 32 books. LinkedIn Top Voice Latin America. Professional Coach certified by ICF at its highest level, Certified Coach, Member and Mentor in Maxwell Leadership, John Maxwell’s team.
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Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
