The Great Reimagination: EASY WAYS TO Make Hard Decisions

Four steps that can take you from dwelling to reaching a conclusion

- LIZZ SCHUMER

These days, even deciding what to have for dinner can feel like a monumental task. So tackling the big stuff-Should I change jobs? Sell the house? End my relationship?- can seem downright impossible. There's a reason for that: The stress and uncertainty of the past few years have left many of us with major decision fatigue. In a 2021 survey conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association, almost a third of adults said they were sometimes so stressed about the COVID-19 pandemic that they struggled to make basic decisions. "Change requires mental energy, and these past two-plus years have required constantly navigating change," explains Rebecca Jackson, a board-certified cognitive specialist for Brain Balance, a brain and body wellness program for kids and adults. The good news is, a few surprisingly simple steps can help make the route forward a little clearer, no matter where you're headed.

STEP 1: Map out a path.