I’m not exactly an awesome decision maker. I tend to over-analyze things, stress out, and plan things to the last detail. What’s the saying? Men plan and God laughs. Yeah, I think that’s about right, whether or not you’re religious.In any case, I’m always a bit of a disaster when I have to make a decision. I mean, I don’t freak out when ordering lunch or anything. Give me a little credit; I’m not that lame. But for life-altering, big, monster-face decisions? Yeah, I’ve been known to make myself sick over them.

But I’m getting better. That’s what life is about, after all - getting better. So in my years since leaving college, here’s what I’ve learned about making decisions:

1. Nothing is ever as big of a deal as it seems right now.

When you look back on things in a year or two, that decision keeping you up at night is probably going to seem silly. Not that your life isn’t important, but things always seem most important when they are at present. Remember that.

2. No decision is permanent.

Well, I mean, if you decide to cut off your arm, that might be a little hard to change, but few decisions that you’ll make in life can’t be changed later. For example, let’s say that you have the opportunity to move to California from Florida to take a job. If you hate it, you can move back. It’s not that big of a deal (see point one).

3. People who give you advice tell you what they would do.

Not what you should do. Those two things are VERY DIFFERENT. Take any advice with a grain of salt, whether it comes from your pot-smoking best friend or your wise grandfather. People always have their own interests (or at least their own experiences) in mind.

4. People will get over it if you don’t take their advice.

Make decisions for you, not for other people. No matter what you decide, you’ll always going to piss off someone, mostly because almost everyone will tell you what they want you to do based on their own interests not what they think is the best choice for you - see point 3).

5. Regret is a bigger pill to swallow if you don’t try.

If you quit your job to run your own business and it fails, you might regret it. It happens sometimes. If you stay in a job you hate for the rest of your life, you will regret not trying to run your own business, and that regret will make you feel like more of an ass than the first type of regret where you failed but at least tried.

6. Every moment you spend trying to make a decision is a moment you could be taking action.

You’re wasting time. Just choose and get on with it. See points 1 - 5. Whatever you decide, it will be ok.

7. Make the decision and move on.

Lastly, once you’ve made your decision, stop making. Stop going over and over in your head about whether or not you chose correctly. You did. Stop thinking about whether or not you should change your mind. You shouldn’t. When you make a choice, stick to it until you know whether or not it’s going to work for you long-term.