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Decisionmaking Skills and Crosswords

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 8:09 pm
by SReh26
Crosswords sharpen one mentally. They can also be a way to escape decisions and other aspects of daily life temporarily.

What strategies do you utilize when making tough decisions in real life? Like relocating, selling ones home, retiring, spending, ending something - friendship, hobby or a service.

I‘m aware of and use the following strategies but often find myself stymied. If there are additional methods Id love to hear about them.

1. pro and con lists
2. ask yourself what the short, medium and long term results will be of the decision
3. sleep on it / put it off
4. get more information
5. ask others for their opinion
6. pay for expert advice
7. if you aren’t sure, do nothing
8. maximize/optimize vs „satisfice“: do what’s good enough - popularized by the book The Paradox of Choice
9. go with your gut feeling
10. let external factors prod you into reacting
11. get someone to tell you what you should do then do the opposite

I know this is better as a reddit topic but they all seem to be age 19-24. I also know indecisiveness is a sign of depression but it‘s also very common in our highly specialized high information society with more options than ever before, some say.

Re: Decisionmaking Skills and Crosswords

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:05 pm
by BarbaraK
Flip a coin. When it’s in midair, I’ll find myself hoping it lands one way or the other.

Re: Decisionmaking Skills and Crosswords

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:17 pm
by SReh26
BarbaraK wrote: Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:05 pm Flip a coin. When it’s in midair, I’ll find myself hoping it lands one way or the other.
A nickel, quarter or half dollar? just kidding.

It does sound like a great way to identify what one really prefers.

Re: Decisionmaking Skills and Crosswords

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:37 am
by oldjudge
I was a commodity trader for 28 years. I constantly had to make quick decisions and that has pretty well carried over to most aspects of my life. I rely on my gut, realizing that I will be wrong at times, but confident that I will be right a lot more often.

Re: Decisionmaking Skills and Crosswords

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:02 am
by SReh26
Well, if anyone has thoughts on any ONE of these issues:

wills v. trusts, gifting policies, whether to sell an s&p fund now, TRowe Price (which I have), whether to sell or keep RE, whether to leave NYC, how long to keep working, what to do about difficult people, ltc insurance and life insurance (both of which I have),

feel free to DM me.

I have say 85 percent of this well handled, but I just feel like I have to decide so many things and I don’t really have any answers. I’ve made good decisions in my life but also stupid ones out of ignorance and fear.

some muggles attempted to address all these issues. I thank them but it’s not necessary.