We’re often told that decisive people get ahead—quick decisions, fast action, no hesitation. But what if I told you that sometimes, the most productive move you can make is to pause a decision?
In this episode, we’re diving into the hidden power of deferring a decision with purpose. You’ll learn:
✔️ Why decision fatigue drains your productivity (and how to prevent it)
✔️ The key signs that now isn’t the right time to decide
✔️ How to hit pause without falling into avoidance
✔️ Three simple steps to make a decision with confidence when the time is right
If you’ve got a decision hanging over you—one you keep circling back to—this episode is for you. We’ll unpack when stepping back is the smartest choice and how to make decisions without regret when you’re ready.
👉 Loved this episode? Share it with one person who needs to hear this today!
💬 Join the conversation: DM me on Instagram @JasmineClarkeCoach or share your thoughts in the Productivity with Zest Facebook group.
🎧 Up next: How to make meetings actually productive (and cut down the time you spend in them!). Don’t miss it!
Listen now and live with zest! 🍋✨
We’re constantly told that decisive people get ahead—fast decisions, quick action, no hesitation. And while there’s truth in that, sometimes the best, most productive thing you can do is… wait.
Yep, you read that right. Pausing a decision can actually be the smartest move.
If you’ve ever felt stuck on a decision, circling around it endlessly, or feeling pressured to decide right now—this is for you. Let’s talk about why deferring a decision can be strategic, not just avoidance, and how to do it in a way that actually helps you move forward.
Did you know that the average adult makes over 35,000 decisions a day? 🤯
From small ones (tea or coffee?) to huge, life-changing ones (should I take that new job?), your brain is constantly working. And the more decisions you make, the harder each one becomes.
This is why, by the end of the day, you might find yourself staring blankly at a takeaway menu, unable to choose. Your brain is fried. This is decision fatigue in action—when mental overload leads to poor choices, procrastination, or avoiding decisions altogether.
To protect your mental energy, high performers simplify their daily choices.
🔑 The takeaway? The more you reduce unimportant choices, the more energy you have for the big ones that matter.
Let’s be clear—I’m not talking about procrastination. I’m not saying to shove decisions into the ‘too hard’ box and ignore them forever.
But there are times when pushing pause is the best thing you can do. Here’s when deferring a decision is actually smart:
Ever tried making a big decision when you’re overwhelmed, tired, or emotionally drained? It’s like trying to see clearly through fogged-up glasses.
When you’re in this state, your brain struggles to process complex choices. Neuroscience shows that when we’re stressed, we shift into ‘fight or flight’ mode—meaning we react rather than think strategically.
✅ The fix? If you’re drained, pause. Give yourself permission to step away, recharge, and revisit the decision when you’re in a clearer headspace.
Some decisions need more than just gut instinct—they need facts.
Say you’re considering hiring a VA but haven’t worked out your budget yet. Or you’re thinking about investing in a new tool but haven’t read the reviews. Rushing into a decision without key details can lead to regret, wasted time, and unnecessary stress.
✅ The fix? Set a reminder to come back to it once you have the information you need. Pausing isn’t failure—it’s smart strategy!
When we’re emotionally invested, we don’t always see things clearly. We might:
✅ The fix? Ask yourself: “If my best friend was in this situation, what would I tell them to do?”
If you’d tell them to step back and wait, that’s a sign you should too.
So, how do you intentionally put a decision on hold without it turning into endless procrastination?
Instead of letting it linger forever, schedule a time to re-evaluate. Put it in your diary—whether it’s a week, a month, or after a key event happens. This keeps it from floating around in your brain, stealing your energy.
Why are you pausing? Do you need more information? More mental space? Identify this so you feel in control rather than stuck.
If you’re waiting on something, what’s the next action? A follow-up email? A research task? Give it structure. This ensures the decision doesn’t just get lost in the shuffle.
Once you’ve given yourself time and gathered what you need, it’s time to commit. But here’s a mindset shift that might help…
There is no such thing as the one perfect decision.
We make the best choices we can with the information we have at the time. If future-you would do it differently, that’s just the benefit of hindsight.
So if you’re stuck in decision paralysis, release the pressure of getting it ‘right.’ Most choices aren’t permanent. You can adjust and course-correct.
🔑 Remember the moving ship metaphor? It’s easier to steer a ship that’s moving than one stuck in port. Just start moving, and you can tweak the course as you go!
1️⃣ Set a deadline – No more overthinking. Give yourself a date to decide and stick to it. Tell someone and ask them to keep you accountable.
2️⃣ Use the “one path closed” trick – Imagine one option is suddenly taken off the table. Do you feel relieved or disappointed? Your gut reaction is a clue!
3️⃣ Commit and move forward – Once you decide, don’t waste energy second-guessing. Take action. If you need to tweak later, you will.
The next time you feel pressured to make a decision, ask yourself:
If the answer is no, give yourself permission to defer—but do it with intention. Pausing isn’t avoidance—it’s strategy.
📢 What’s next? Next week, we’re diving into how to make meetings more productive (and shorter!). If your calendar is full of meetings that could’ve been emails, you won’t want to miss it!
💡 What’s your biggest takeaway from this episode? Let’s chat in the Productivity with Zest Facebook group or DM me on Instagram @JasmineClarkeCoach!
And if you know someone stuck in decision paralysis, send this their way! 🚀
Stay productive, stay intentional, and as always—live with zest! 🍋✨
Speaker 1: 0:42
Hi and welcome back to Productivity with Zest. Today we’re talking about something that might surprise you, and it’s why not making a decision right now could actually be the best and most productive move. This is my 23rd episode of the podcast, which is super exciting. If you have been listening from the start, then I just wanted to say thank you so so much. I really appreciate your comments when you message me about the episodes. It just honestly fills me up. If you are a relatively new listener, you are so welcome If you are just starting out.
Speaker 1: 1:25
The most popular episodes so far are episode 5 procrastination unpacked why we delay and how to break the cycle and episode 7 productivity is not what you think it is. If you’ve listened to a few episodes, what is your favorite episode so far? I would love to hear, and also, what do you want to hear what? What am I missing? I think there’s a bit of a gap on habits at the moment, so I’m looking at what I can do about that, and I’m also looking at starting to bring some guests on in the next few months. So watch this space. There aren’t going to be a few changes to the podcast coming, but I will keep you updated. I would really appreciate it if you could share this podcast with just one other person, or more if you can. One listener did that this week and got in touch to let me know Her colleagues were so grateful that she shared it and they started listening and taking the value straight away. So if you can just press pause on this episode, share it with one other person. I am so grateful. I also wanted to let you know that I’m working on something new at the moment, something that I think will help you get more of the important things done, something that will help those who aren’t ready for coaching yet for that one-to-one. I am really excited about this. It’s going to unfold over the next few months, so watch this space. If you can’t wait, send me a message and I’ll give you a bit of a sneak preview.
Speaker 1: 2:51
Today, our focus is on decision making, and particularly when it could be a good idea to pause decision making. We’re often told that decisive people get ahead, that successful business owners and professionals make quick, confident decisions, and there is definitely truth in that. I 100% believe it. I’m a very quick, confident decision maker, but on the other side, there’s a hidden superpower in knowing when not to decide just yet. It can actually be more productive as you release yourself from that pressure of deciding. Now, you give yourself that mental headspace back and you can set it aside to focus on other things. As business owners and busy professionals, there are always decisions to make, and some examples of ones that you may end up deciding to put a pin in and make in the future could be things like making the decision to hire a virtual assistant, or launching a new product or service, or taking a promotion or a new job, or restructuring the team. If you’ve got a decision that’s been hanging over you, the one that’s popping into your head right now, one that you keep circling back to today’s episode is going to give you a fresh perspective. We’ll talk about how deferring a decision, when done intentionally, can actually help you move forward, reduce mental clutter and lead to a better choice in the long run.
Speaker 1: 4:14
Firstly, let’s talk about the psychology behind decision making and decision fatigue. It is definitely a productivity killer. Did you know that the average adult makes over 35,000 decisions a day, from the tiny ones like what to eat for breakfast, what to wear, to the big ones that shape our businesses, our careers and our personal lives? This constant decision making drains our mental energy and it’s called decision fatigue. It’s why, by the end of the day, you might find yourself staring blankly at the takeaway app, unable to choose what you fancy, and all those good intentions of eating healthily have gone out the window. The more choices we have to make, the harder each one becomes. I’ve definitely sat there on an evening, unable to choose what to watch on TV, just because my decision-making ability has been spent. Do you recognise that? This is why some very successful people wear the same clothes every day? That is one decision that they don’t need to make. Or have the same thing for lunch every day? Again, it’s another decision that they don’t need to make. This saves their decision making powers for the bigger or more important decisions. So what decisions can you pre-make in the day to save some of your precious decision making capacity with, with 35,000 decisions a day, to make some big and impactful that involve life changes, and some smaller like do I want another cuppa With this?
Speaker 1: 5:46
Our state of mind has a real impact on the decisions we make, and when we’re mentally drained, we’re more likely to make impulsive, avoidant or low quality decisions. This is why deferring a big, important decision can sometimes be the smartest move. It gives you the space to make a choice at the right time with the right mindset. So let’s be clear I’m not talking about indefinite procrastination. I’m not saying to shove that decision into the too hard to make box and never deal with it. But there are times when pressuring yourself to decide immediately is actually unhelpful. And if you recognize yourself in any of these scenarios, pressing pause might be a really good option for you.
Speaker 1: 6:31
So, number one you just don’t have the mental space. Have you ever tried to make a big decision when you’re overwhelmed, tired or emotionally drained? It’s like trying to see clearly through foggy glasses. Your brain literally struggles to process complex decisions when you’re under stress. Neuroscience tells us that when we’re overwhelmed, our brains shift into fight or flight mode, making us more reactive and less strategic. So if you’re in this state, if you’ve got a lot going on right now, give yourself permission to defer the decision. Step away, get some rest and come back when your brain is in a better place to think clearly.
Speaker 1: 7:09
How about number two? You don’t have the right information. Sometimes the best decision isn’t possible yet because you simply don’t have enough or the right information. So, for instance, you might be considering investing in a new tool for your business, but you’re waiting for feedback from someone who’s already used it. Or you’re thinking about hiring a team member, but you haven’t fully mapped out your budget yet. Rushing to decide without key details could lead to regret, unnecessary costs or wasted time. Instead, set a reminder to revisit that decision when you have what you need and make sure you find out the information. If you need to do some research, if you need to seek out the information that you need to make it, make sure you do it.
Speaker 1: 7:58
Number three you’re emotionally attached to the outcome. When we are emotionally invested in a decision, we can become biased without realising it. We might ignore red flags, downplay risks or make choices based on short-term emotions rather than long-term logic. This really reminds me of one of my beautiful friends when she was moving house. She’s such an amazing person who sees the best in everything and she approaches challenge with let’s get this done, we can do this, we can overcome this hurdle. Every house she went round, she didn’t really see the problem, she just saw how she could overcome it. So she’d walk in a house and there’d be a glaring issue that just wouldn’t fit for her family. But she’d be like no, we can definitely change this, we can do that and do that and do that. She’s such a problem solver that she would go into all these situations ignoring the red flags and focusing on oh well, we can do it. And trying to make it work In the end. Luckily, she has a very steady husband who helped her see the downsides in each potential house and they ended up in an amazing house that’s perfect for them.
Speaker 1: 9:11
So to kind of take yourself out of the situation and remove a bit of the emotion, you can ask yourself some questions, for instance, and remove a bit of the emotion, you can ask yourself some questions. For instance, if I had to advise a friend on this, what would I tell them? Or if you’ve got somebody in your life who you really appreciate their wisdom, their knowledge, they’re a great person to ask something of, ask them. Or if you can’t ask them, just think you know what would Jenny do in this situation. Think you know what would Jenny do in this situation, which is what I do. If you tell a friend to step back and give a decision time, that is a sign that you should do the same.
Speaker 1: 9:48
So, if you’re thinking right, I’ve got this decision and I can’t make it right now. I just don’t have the information. I feel too emotionally invested. I’m not in the right headspace. I can’t keep going over and over and over this decision in my mind. It might be a good idea to defer it, but you need to defer it without avoiding it. So how do you make sure you’re deferring decisions intentionally rather than just shoving them in the box of? I’m not dealing with that right now, without avoiding it. So how do you make sure you’re deferring decisions intentionally rather than just shoving them in the box of? I’m not dealing with that right now.
Speaker 1: 10:16
So, number one set a decision date. Instead of letting it hang over, you indefinitely schedule a time to reevaluate. It Could be in a week, a month or after a key event has happened. Literally put it in your diary so you don’t forget Decision date for this thing. Clarify what you need. So write down why you’re pausing this decision. Is it because you need more information? Is it because you need more headspace? How are you going to get that headspace? Identifying this helps you feel in control rather than stuck. And three create a next step. If you’re waiting on something, what is the next action? What do you need to do? Is it a follow-up email, a research task, speaking to a friend, getting some rest, getting some really good night’s sleep, eating some good food, going on some lovely walks? Don’t let it float. Give it structure. So, when you’ve given yourself your time, you’ve gathered what you need. How do you make that decision then, without regret? How do you make that decision decisively?
Speaker 1: 11:29
I just wanted to touch on here something that I am believing more and more, and that is the myth of the right decision. One thing I work with my clients all the time is this there is no such thing as the right or wrong decision, and, believe me, it’s taken me such a long time to get here. I am such a black and white thinker. Something is either right or it’s wrong. There is no in between. This is how my brain works. It works in boxes, but I’ve come to the realisation that there is no such thing as a right or wrong decision, and it’s something that I really used to agonise over, like what is the right thing to do and the right thing, and it’s something that really stalled me in my decision making.
Speaker 1: 12:13
I strongly believe that we can only make the best decisions we can based on the evidence we have at the time. That’s it. We make our best guess on the best path based on what we know, the evidence we have, how we feel, our gut instinct. If in the future we look back and think, oh, I may have done that differently if I got to go back in time, that is not because we made a wrong choice, that is just the benefit of hindsight. At the time we didn’t have that extra information and that is okay. We made the best decision we could based on the evidence that we had at the time. We made our best guess.
Speaker 1: 12:59
So if you’re stuck in decision paralysis because you’re afraid of getting it wrong, lift that pressure off yourself. Future, you will always have more insight than present you. But present you can only work with what is available now. This is why sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause, let things unfold a little more and revisit the choice when the time is right. But don’t put it off forever, because if you do keep putting it off, sometimes the decision will be made for you or you will lose the choices that you had. So, when the time is right, the goal is not to agonize over every decision, but to trust yourself, to make the best call based on what you know right now and release yourself from that pressure of the right decision. So three steps to make a decision with confidence when it is time to make that decision.
Speaker 1: 13:51
So, number one you set that deadline. If you’ve been stuck in indecision, set a firm date to decide. No more overthinking. Tell somebody and ask to be accountable to them. So say to your friend right, I need to make a decision about X, y, z and I need to make it by Friday. Please ask me about it.
Speaker 1: 14:12
Number two make a choice based on what you know. Gather information, facts, lean into your instinct, chat with a close personal friend who you really trust. If you decide in between two paths, one trick that I like to do is try to imagine that one path is closed to you and no longer an option. If you feel relief that that is no longer an option, maybe that’s a nudge to lean towards the other direction. If you feel distressed or disappointed that that path is closed, maybe that’s a sign that’s the one that you really do want to walk down. And number three commit and move forward. And number three commit and move forward once you decide.
Speaker 1: 14:55
Don’t waste energy, second guessing. Focus on execution. If you need to tweak it later you will. I’m sure lots of you have heard the metaphor of the ship how it is easier to turn a moving ship than one stuck at port. So move forward like the ship in the direction you’ve decided to. And if you need to tweak your course or even make a full pivot, then this is so much easier than if you never started moving forward.
Speaker 1: 15:20
I make pivots all the time in my work because I make a decision based on what I know, what I feel at the time, and sometimes I’m walking down it and think you know what? This isn’t right and I make a bit of a pivot. It is so productive to do that. If you feel like you want to learn more about making pivots, have a little listen to episode eight. Stop wasting time the power of a pivot to propel your productivity and there are a lot of Ps in that title.
Speaker 1: 15:49
If decisions are smaller and less likely to impact your lifelong term, take the time to decide proportionate to the impact. You wouldn’t take as long deciding your outfit versus deciding your new career, so make sure the time that you are taking is proportionate to the impact. Also, most decisions that you could make can be reversed or course corrected, even big ones. Very few decisions are truly final, final final decisions. So the next time that you feel pressured to make a decision but something inside tells you it’s not the right time, lean into that instinct and remember deferring is different from avoiding the keys to pause with purpose. By giving yourself the space to think clearly, you’re actually making a stronger, smarter choice. So decide when you are going to make that decision. Figure out what you need to do to be able to make that decision, what information you need to collect, and then make that decision with purpose.
Speaker 1: 16:54
Next week, we are going to be talking about productive meetings. Yes, there is definitely a way you can increase meeting productivity and decrease the time spent in them. It is a real bugbear of mine is the time we spend in meetings talking about the work and the time we don’t spend doing the actual work. So join me next week if you would like to breathe new life into your calendar, if it is currently very meeting heavy. If this episode resonated with you, I would love to hear your thoughts. I always do. I respond to every message, so send me a message on Instagram or LinkedIn. Just look for Jasmine Clark, coach Clark with an E and Jasmine with an E or share your takeaways in the Productivity with Zest Facebook group I’ll put links to both in the show notes or head to zestproductivitycom forward slash episode 23. If you know someone who is struggling with a big decision right now, send this episode their way. Just hit share. Until next time, stay productive, stay intentional and, as always, live with zest.
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