There are many choices in a day and we are only conscious of some of them

We make choices all day long, consciously and unconsciously. We start the day and make choices about what to do first, second, third etc. It starts in the morning with choosing what to wear or what to have for breakfast. The evening approaches and we make choices about going home, going out for dinner with a friend or doing some exercise.

I call the very moment where we make a choice the choice point. It’s the point where we stop and make a decision, big or small, about what to do or say next.

There are many choice points in a day and we are only conscious of some of them. Most of them are part of our daily routine and so we are not aware of every choice point. This is good news as we wouldn’t move on with things very fast otherwise!

However, as creatures of habit we easily go into autopilot when going about our daily business. A good amount of important or crucial choice or decision points where we could change course and as a result make a difference in what we do, achieve or say, pass us by.

In my own experience, becoming more aware of important choice points in my daily life has allowed me to do more of the things I really want to do rather than feeling swept away by life.

Crucial choice points for me are the moments when I make a decision about how I spend my evening or weekend. When a colleague or friend asks me to come out for a drink or dinner after work, I take a few seconds before I make a choice rather than saying ‘yes’ immediately and then regretting spending the evening in the pub. Before I reply I quickly check in on my needs. By needs I mean for example my need for rest, my need for ‘me-time’ or my need for social time.

By taking a moment to check in with ourselves about what we really want and how we want to spend our time allows us to make more informed choices; choices that are informed and driven by our needs rather than by what other people want us to do or what we think life demands of us.

Making informed choices allows us to feel more in control of our life and helps us feel more satisfied and happy altogether.

How to become more aware of choice points:

Practice every day and start small.

Become more aware of choice points in your day. When for example, you have finished a task and have to decide what to do next; or when a colleague or friend asks you out in the evening or weekend; or when you could go home or to the gym; or whether to eat a biscuit or a healthy snack. These are typical choice points.

Pause, take a few seconds and ask yourself: what do I need right now and what do I really want to do?

As always, I’m curious about how you are getting on. Get in touch.

See my blog ‘Always too much to do’ for more tips on managing your time better.