It makes sense when trying to accomplish a task to try and take in as much information about it as possible right? To weigh up all the pros and cons, to mentally visualise all the possible outcomes to find the best way forward to be left with a clear path to take for success. Well, there comes a point where the sheer amount of information on the topic becomes overwhelming and trying to absorb and interpret all this data can leave you feeling discouraged and disheartened and ultimately stalls you from making a decision and taking any action at all. This is known as “Analysis Paralysis”, and in today’s online world with all the many many benefits it brings, its abundance in readily available information on virtually any topic and viewpoint can also at times feel too much.
Yes, I am talking from experience here. I deal with some form of this in many aspects of my life. I justify it internally by telling myself I am simply trying to find the best possible solution to a problem, and while for small tasks and dilemmas it can serve me quite well when it comes to larger and more complex tasks I often find I reach the point of “paralysis” and need to find a way to kick-start my progress again.
In Other Forms
Analysis Paralysis can stem from other emotions as well, maybe one of these feels familiar to you.
When Too Much Choice is a Bad Thing
Another real-world example of Analysis Paralysis in action is documented in a scientific paper titled Application of Paralysis Analysis Syndrome in Customer Decision Making by Rony Kurien, Dr. Anil Rao Paila & Dr. Asha Nagendra published in 2014. The authors documented and dispelled the general myth that when consumers are given more choices by a vendor the sales go up.
Data was collected from both vendors and consumers on the sales of pasta (as a commonly purchased product) and mobile phones (as an infrequently purchased product). What they found was that when the customer reached a certain number of choices for a specific type of product they were looking for it caused them to stall and either make no purchase at all or, much fewer purchases overall with or without product information coming from a store employee.
This is better illustrated in the below graph taken from the scientific paper cited above showing sales of pasta.
Image taken from the scientific paper Application of Paralysis Analysis Syndrome in Customer Decision Making
What I find particularly interesting in the above graph is that it clearly shows where having too many options of one thing causes “paralysis” to set in and can prevent any action being taken at all. This is similar to where having all the worlds information available at your fingertips on the internet can become overwhelming if you don’t have any methods in place to deal with it.
Strike While The Irons Hot
One method I use myself when trying to overcome or prevent analysis paralysis from setting in is to take action and physically perform a task to at least get the ball rolling. It very well may not be the best choice or way to go about solving the problem but you will learn a great deal more from your mistakes and successes taking action then you can from spending hours, even days researching and thinking about what to do next. There are plenty of very intelligent people out there who may not have achieved much and conversely, there are plenty of perhaps not so highly educated people out there who have achieved a great deal more. What it boils down to is taking action, striking while the irons hot and learning as we go.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”.
Thomas Edison
Other Methods to Prevent and Overcome Analysis Paralysis
Talk about it with someone else
Often talking things through with close friends or family can help you get a different perspective on things and help get you out of the mental rut.
Prioritise your tasks
If you are faced with many tasks or steps at hand to potentially get you where you want to be, write them down on a piece of paper and list them in descending priority. This will not only help you to work out where you need to focus your attention but writing a list is also another trick used by many people including myself to plan for and knock out many tasks in a day.
Try to think logically
It’s no secret that emotions can get in the way of rational decision making. If you feel like this may be the cause, take a step back from the situation, take a deep breath and try to think it through logically. This can often help if the cause of your “paralysis” is from self-doubt or negative thought.
Nothing is perfect
I know the feeling, you just need a bit more time to add a bit more detail or finishing touches to what you’re working on. While striving for perfection can be a good thing, you need to learn where to draw the line as nothing in this world today is perfect. It is an unobtainable standard that will only act as an impassable obstacle in trying to complete your task. Simply doing your best and putting it out there will teach you what you need to know to learn and grow from.
