You:

• overthink and second-guess scenarios and decisions

• seek reassurance

• doubt yourself

• struggle with making a decision

• excessively plan but don’t take action

• over-analyse decisions

Why it happens:

This is often linked to a lack of self-confidence, a fear of failure, or concerns about being judged.

What to try:

• set time limits for decisions. Give yourself a set amount of time to make a decision. eg "I will research for 30 minutes, then take action." This helps prevent overthinking and endless analysis.

• focus on taking small, low-risk actions. Instead of worrying about the big picture, focus on just the next step. Taking small, manageable actions helps reduce the fear of failure and builds confidence over time.

• challenge negative thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking, What if I fail? or What if this goes wrong?, ask yourself: What’s the worst that could actually happen? and What would I do if it did? This can help put fears into perspective.

• set "good enough" standards. Remind yourself that perfection isn’t necessary. Aim for progress, not perfection. Ask, Is this good enough to move forward? rather than Is this perfect?

• use a "test and learn" approach. Instead of seeing every decision as permanent or high-stakes, approach tasks as experiments. Think, I’ll try this and see what happens, rather than, This has to be perfect or it’s a failure.

• practice self-compassion. Worriers are often their own worst critics. Remind yourself that mistakes are part of learning. Talk to yourself as you would a friend, encouraging rather than harsh.

If you would like help getting things done, then take a look at how I can help.