Outsource Decisions To Yourself

How is it that one day you can be so inspired about your creative project, and the next day feel so down about it? Where does that confidence and motivation go? You might not be waffling or indecisive–you might just be tired.

One of the best books on this topic is When by Daniel Pink. Pink shares heaps of strategic research, not on how or why we should make decisions, but when. He makes a strong case that we should pay close attention to our individual chronotype, which basically tell us if we’re a morning person, a night person, or somewhere in between. I’m fascinated by chronotypes, along with the rest of the pop productivity world right now. Check them out sometime. 

Everything logistical seems so clear to me in the morning. I crush tasks like soda cans, one after the other. In the evening, big creative problems are much easier to solve. In the afternoon, I question everything–the choices I made earlier, the direction of my career, the reason for my existence. 

Outsource your decisions to a fresher, smarter version of yourself. Whether or not to exercise isn’t a decision for a version of yourself that just woke up. Outsource that decision to a clear-thinking, evening version of yourself. Humans are mistake-prone beings, especially when we’re tired. The best way around this is to understand that it happens and find out when you’re in your best frame of mind to make certain decisions. 

Good luck out there.