Are you stuck in analysis paralysis?
Time to read: 8 minutes
Have you ever caught yourself writing one to-do-list after the other, strategizing & planning the “best” course of action…
… only to find that – whenever you’re finally ready to sit down and actually get it done – you are more confused than ever and keep returning to the “clarify”, “research” or “find out” tasks again and again and again?
If that’s you and it has been keeping you from moving forward for quite some time – well, you might be stuck in “analysis paralysis”.
What is analysis paralysis?
Analysis paralysis is a state in which we overthink and overanalyze a situation up to the point where we feel so confused and overwhelmed that we’re unable to make a decision or move forward.
Now, in an honest attempt to fight off this state of confusion, most of us look for even more information to find possible answers. Somehow we’re hoping to find the missing pieces that will make everything ‘click’.
However, this intensifies the whole overthinking situation and only leads to a toxic cycle!
In the end, you’re left drained, exhausted, anxious and might even consider giving up the whole dam* thing altogether. (I get it, I’ve been there more than once.)
BUT
Before you do that, before you give up on your whole idea, let’s take a step back.
Because I’ve got some good news for you: More information isn’t going to solve the problem, so you can stop obsessing and relax.
The bad news? More information isn’t going to solve the problem, so you have to stop obsessing and relax.
The solution to analysis paralysis
In order to break through this stuck state, what you really need to do is move beyond the obvious (the topic at hand, the specific questions you’re trying to find answers to, etc.) and look at the real issue at hand.
The only way to overcome analysis paralysis is to identify & face what is actually driving you to overthink in this way.
Now, facing the main issue won’t be comfortable.
In fact, it might even be more scary and painful than staying in this rut and adding layer after layer of information until you’re completely overwhelmed.
HOWEVER
If you do muster up the courage to face and work through the REAL issue, you now have a chance to finally break through this paralysis and move forward.
The confusion will finally be able to give way, just like a fog that has been lifted, and you’ll be able to take powerful & inspired steps towards your goal.
Most common causes of analysis paralysis
SO let’s look at the real issue. At what might be driving your analysis paralysis on a deeper level so you can finally free yourself from it and move forward.
In my experience, having worked with plenty of high achievers and driven individuals, it’s most often one of the following causes:
- Fear
- Cognitive dissonance
- Not knowing what your core ‘change driver’ is
- Decision fatigue
- Lack of self-trust
1. Fear
Fear of failure, fear of the Unknown, fear of judgment, fear in all shapes and sizes.
Fear might be influencing you on both a conscious and subconscious level, leaving you scared of actually taking action and/or the possible consequences of it.
Overanalyzing then could be your attempt to distract yourself, procrastinate on the real action, and give yourself juuust a little bit more leeway, so you don’t have to fully step into this fear quite yet.
OR it could be your way of steeling yourself and preparing yourself for what you dread might happen. However, the more you overthink, the more you worry and add to your fear.
What you actually need to do in these cases is face the fear itself in a strategic way (so you don’t get overwhelmed) and potentially also strengthen your resourcefulness and support network.
2. Cognitive dissonance
If cognitive dissonance is driving your need to overthink, it means that you might have other goals, values, beliefs, or needs that are in conflict with what you’re trying to do.
Even if this happens subconsciously, cognitive dissonance puts you under a lot of internal pressure, so your trying to analyze and find answers might just be an attempt to diffuse the pressure and “get a grasp” on why you feel so torn. Oftentimes, though, you won’t find the answer that way. Instead, you have to go within, recognize which factors are in conflict and find a way to unite them. (And don’t worry, that sounds way more complicated than it really is.)
3. Not knowing what your key ‘change driver’ is
This is a concept that I talk a lot about with my clients in my coaching programs.
Basically, when it comes to complex and confusing situations where everything is somehow connected, the solution is not to try and solve EVERYTHING one by one (which most “focus on one thing” approaches will tell you to do!).
There are just too many things that influence each other and are way too important for you to neglect them, right? I get it.
So, what to do?
A better way to approach this is to identify your core ‘change driver’ as I call it. This is the one piece of the puzzle that is connected to will make the biggest difference RIGHT NOW. These elements have the biggest catalyst potential and should be your main focus so you can start seeing some traction and begin moving forward.
Now, if I were your coach, this would be my main focus without even telling you. I would start looking for your most important 2-3 change drivers already during your onboarding. By the time we would sit down for our first session then, we would already have an idea of your key change drivers and also how we want to influence them in order to create instant, positive change in a desired direction. Now, if you are on your own and don’t have a coach who can support you in doing this, it is up to you to gain clarity on the one to two most important elements, your change drivers.
4. Decision Fatigue
The fourth major cause of analysis paralysis that I see in working with my clients is decision fatigue. Decision fatigue is a psychological term to describes a state in which you’ve exhausted your cognitive capacities to such a degree that you simply have no more willpower or energy left to make yet another difficult decision.
What do I mean by that? Well, your willpower and cognitive capacities are limited, just like a battery that – once you’ve used it up – has to be recharge before you can turn it on again.
Your cognitive capacities and willpower are no different. Basically, it means that you’ve spent all your time, energy, and creativity on other decisions (big or small) which simply leaves no more capacities for any more decisions. This is a major driver of analysis paralysis as you realistically can’t determine anymore what to focus on or what to do.
And before you go belittling yourself – that’s absolutely normal! We all get decision fatigue if we’re not careful. The only way to deal with it then is to step back, recharge, reduce the noise and then get back to it.
5. Lack of self-trust
Now, this fifth driver may feel very much like the first one (fear), but if you look closer, it’s a little bit different.
It doesn’t focus so much on external consequences so trying to rule out external threats won’t make any difference. Rather, it’s rooted in you feeling like you’re not completely able to rely on and trust yourself.
Maybe you’ve had some painful experiences, maybe you’re overwhelmed by the amount of responsibility and risk that your new project entails, or maybe you’re aware of some self-sabotaging patterns that you have so you know that you might just let yourself down a little bit.
Whatever it is, this one’s a little bit tricky because no amount of analyzing or planning will be able to resolve this trust issue. My advice? Sit yourself down and have an honest conversation and even negotiation with yourself. Depending on how deeply rooted this lack of self-trust is, you might just have to prove to yourself that you’ll keep showing up and that you are going to be able to trust yourself. This is a slower, but also deeply satisfying and fulfilling process, so by any means – don’t avoid it! There’s gold on the other side of this tunnel.
What comes after analysis paralysis?
I’ll use a metaphor that one of my clients used and that I absolutely LOVE because, well, it just perfectly describes the feeling of what comes next:
Your brain will be able to breathe again.
You’ll finally be able to take action, to move beyond this stagnant and depressing state.
Instead, you’ll be able to jump forward right here and now.
And guess what? The mother of all feedback – the information you truly need to make progress – is action.
So, once you shift into this new mode, you’ll see your productivity and progress skyrocket.
Take action now!
So, tell me: are you ready to face your real issue?
Are you ready to get rid of analysis paralysis and move forward with new-found momentum?
If so, hop on over to Instagram and tag me or DM to tell me -which of those causes do you think is stopping you and how are you going to combat it?
I’m so proud of you for showing up for yourself in this way and I can’t wait to see you shine brightly.
Don’t forget, I’m rooting for you!