Quick decision-making isn’t always easy—especially when your mind is spinning with what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. You want to make the right choice, but fear of making the wrong one keeps you frozen. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many women struggle with overthinking, feeling paralyzed by the pressure to make perfect choices. But the truth is, not every decision requires deep analysis or endless second-guessing. In this post, we’ll break down simple strategies for quick decision-making so you can move forward with confidence, trust God in the process, and stop letting fear keep you stuck.
You CAN Make Decisions, You’re Just Overthinking
Here’s the thing: You already make 34,000 decisions a day.
So no, you’re not bad at decision-making. You’re just overthinking certain ones because they feel bigger than they actually are.
But let’s be clear—this is not about life-changing decisions.
When we’re making big, life-altering choices, we don’t rush. We seek God, seek wise counsel, pray for wisdom and discernment.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
God is faithful to guide us when we acknowledge Him, trust Him, and don’t lean on our own understanding. Because let’s be real—our understanding is limited.
God sees the end from the beginning. He knows which path is best, even when it doesn’t make sense to us in the moment.
I can’t even count the number of times I was confused by what God was doing. Times when I thought He was taking me off course—only to look back and realize He was protecting me the entire time.
Even in the little things—like the times He nudged me to take a different way home, only to later find out there had been a terrible accident on my usual route.
He knows.
He is good.
And He is faithful to lead us when we trust Him.
But today? We’re talking about non-life-changing decisions.
- Should I buy this book?
- Should I take this course?
- Should I hire this lawyer?
- Should I sign up for this program?
- Should I do this or do that?
Not – Should I marry this person? Or – Should I have children?
Those are the kinds of decisions that require deeper wisdom and waiting on God.
But when it comes to daily, non-permanent choices, we don’t have to stay stuck in fear. We don’t need to wait for neon signs before we move forward.
We can make decisions—and we can trust that God will guide us as we go.
Why We Struggle With Decision-Making
Let’s be real—most of the time, we aren’t stuck because we don’t know what to do.
We’re stuck because we’re:
- Afraid of picking the wrong option and messing everything up
- Trying to control the outcome instead of trusting God
- Paralyzed by fear of failure—or even fear of success
And that last one? It’s sneaky.
For so long, I was afraid of failing in my business. What if I put in all this effort and it doesn’t work? What if I let people down?
Then suddenly, God gave me a bigger vision for where He was leading me, and you know what happened?
I was afraid of succeeding.
Because success meant stepping into something bigger than myself. It meant change, responsibility, visibility.
But fear was never supposed to be the thing holding us back. That’s why God told Joshua over and over, “Be strong and courageous.”
And the Bible reminds us 365 times—one for every day of the year—not to fear.
So if you’re waiting for absolute certainty before you make a decision, here’s the hard truth: That’s never going to happen.
God rarely gives us the full picture. He gives us the next step.
The 10-10-10 Rule: A Simple Way to Make Decisions Quickly
Not every decision is a big one, but when you treat all of them like they are, it leads to decision fatigue and mental exhaustion.
So how do you know if a decision actually matters?
Try the 10-10-10 Rule:
- Will this matter in 10 minutes? (Example: Should I order the latte or the tea? Should I post on social media today or tomorrow?) → These don’t need to take up your mental space. Just decide.
- Will this matter in 10 months? (Example: Should I join this coaching program? Should I start a business?) → These deserve some thought, but they’re not life-altering.
- Will this matter in 10 years? (Example: Who you marry, a major career change, a move across the country.) → These require wisdom, prayer, and discernment.
And if a decision doesn’t fit into any of these categories? Let it go.
Because your peace is more valuable than stressing over something that won’t even cross your mind next week.
My Traffic Light System for Decision-Making
We often want God to give us an exact roadmap before we move forward. But that’s not how faith works.
Instead, think of God’s guidance like a traffic light:
- Red Light = STOP. You feel uneasy. Doors are closing. Something feels off. → Wait, pray, don’t force it.
- Green Light = GO. You feel peace. Doors are opening. You’ve received confirmation. → Move forward with confidence!
- Yellow Light = FREE WILL. No clear answer? No warning signs? This is where we get stuck. → God is trusting you to choose.
And this is where I used to struggle big time.
For the longest time, I was waiting for God to give me a SUPER clear sign. I wanted neon flashing lights, arrows pointing, confirmation from other people, and maybe even an angelic choir just to make it extra obvious.
But when those things didn’t come? I got frustrated.
“God, just tell me what to do!!”
But He didn’t.
And for a while, I thought maybe I wasn’t hearing Him right. Maybe I was missing something.
But what I eventually learned is that God was speaking—I just needed to learn how to listen.
Sometimes, He speaks through a strong sense of peace (green light). Sometimes, He speaks through uneasiness or roadblocks (red light). And sometimes… He gives us the freedom to decide (yellow light).
And that last one? That’s where we tend to freeze.
We want to be absolutely sure before we make a move. But God often won’t give us the whole map—He’ll just give us the next step.
And the truth is, if we trust Him, we don’t have to fear making the wrong decision.
Because even if we do? He will redirect us.
If you’ve been waiting for a neon sign before you move forward, maybe this is it: Trust that God has given you enough to take the next step.
The Two-Way Door Framework: Stop Overthinking Small Decisions
Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, uses a simple decision-making tool called the Two-Way Door Framework:
- Two-Way Doors = Reversible Decisions. If it doesn’t work out, you can change your mind and try something else. (Think: launching a podcast, trying a new business strategy, starting a new habit.)
- One-Way Doors = Permanent Decisions. These require more time, prayer, and wise counsel. (Think: marriage, moving, quitting a job without a backup plan.)
Most of the decisions we stress about? They’re two-way doors.
That means you can tweak, adjust, or pivot as you go.
So stop waiting for a perfect plan—just take a step forward.
How to Reduce Decision Fatigue and Make Quicker Choices
You have a limited amount of decision-making energy each day. So why waste it on things like:
- What should I eat?
- What should I wear?
- What should I cook for dinner?
To simplify your life, try these strategies:
- Meal Plan in Advance – Stop wasting time staring at the fridge.
- Choose Outfits Weekly – Set them out every Sunday so you don’t stand in front of your closet wondering what to wear.
- Prioritize with the Rule of 3 – Each week, set three key priorities. Each day, list three top tasks.
- Declutter Your Space – A cluttered kitchen makes it harder to cook. A messy workspace makes it harder to focus.
- Unclutter Your Mind – Brain dump your thoughts so they don’t take up mental space.
When you eliminate unnecessary decisions, you free up energy for the things that actually matter.
Final Thoughts: Just Decide & Move Forward
If you’re overthinking a decision, ask yourself:
- Will this matter in 10 minutes, 10 months, or 10 years?
- Is this a two-way door where I can adjust later?
- Am I waiting for certainty when God is asking me to take a step in faith?
Because God can’t steer a parked car.
And you, my friend? You are not stuck. You just need to start moving.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Amy Wadlington
Featured Image by
