We make these types of bad decisions at every turn, but we know they're not in our best interests, and we only need a small reminder now and then, so this article will list all of the options that can help you grease your wheels.
A list of choices that will improve your life
Here's a list of choices that will help you ring your chances:
1. Making the tough call
There's a top-notch episode of the British TV show "The Office," featuring Michael Scott, the manager of a paper company who has to send a member of his team packing by the end of the day and does everything he can to duck out.
He was willing to cross the sea to avoid this painfully awkward conversation about firing someone. No team leader enjoys doing so, so most leaders keep some people on their team even though they must be laid off.
When you're at the mercy of some situation that makes you feel like you want to flee, like Michael Scott, remember to make the difficult choice. You may suffer because of it, but it is the best course of action for everyone.
The same applies to past relationships that ended badly but that you hope will work out someday. Similarly, if you are unhappy at work, find another job; this is the best option in the long run.
2. Take the stairs
This phrase is used in a literal sense rather than as a metaphor. During the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis, most people opted for the stairs instead of the elevator, but even when it turns out that using it is not dangerous, taking the stairs is still a more practical option.
Every chance you get, go for a walk. That might be worth your salt. For example, it's a good idea to get used to parking at the far end of the parking lot, which makes you walk a few extra steps to your car. Keeping active is the best course of action.
3. Don't be afraid to look foolish
Why are people so obsessed with looking smart? Sometimes, looking stupid is the best course of action. You might have a question in class, but you're in two minds about whether or not to raise your hand. It's not very smart of you to do so because you become a bundle of nerves just by the mere thought of looking stupid, so you bite your tongue.
This happens all the time when working with team members in particular. We break into a cold sweat, not wanting to look "stupid," and ask what we have in mind, but that's absolutely off base. The real "stupid" is to keep it to yourself. Clearing the decks suggests that you like things on the dot.
Given that most people have dry spells in their communication skills, don't let an irrelevant email or message catch you off guard. Just ask the sender for clarification. Sounds wiser, huh?
4. Read a book
Many applications and services seek to make learning closer at hand, like the Blinkist app, for example, which offers book summaries. That might seem tempting initially, but you'll soon realize that you will forget everything you learned from such apps since they're like sweets: they taste good but offer no nutritious value.
We all want to save time, so we say things like, "Give me the juice" or "strip it down to one sentence," which are quite shallow, if you ask. Learning is more about depth than breadth of knowledge. There is no substitute for reading books, as an hour of reading equals an hour of meditation. So, you think, learn, and connect the dots, which is the best course of action.
5. Uphold values
On weekends, you might go out with your coworkers. One of them does not eat takeaway, and your coworkers try to get him to join them for lunch, but he holds his ground.
We often lock horns with situations that call for giving up our values, thinking it's a one-time thing. For instance, it won't hurt you to eat another piece of chocolate, but this becomes a mountain to climb regarding critical issues.
If you appreciate friendship, you shouldn't go gossiping around, albeit only once, and if you appreciate honesty, lying should be out of the question, no matter how simple the situation is.
Upholding your values has always been the wisest option because it makes you feel good about yourself.
6. Focus on options with a positive impact
Say you have to decide about two things: positive and negative. You'll choose the former and stop looking for a hat trick to make the right choice; there's no such thing. Things are tough for a reason. It may take a thousand tries to come up with the wisest option, but it doesn't mean you should ever give up.
In wrap up
When you make the wrong choices, like eating a bag of chips, plan to do better next time. We all make mistakes now and then. We're not robots. So, keep doing what's good for you. If things don't always go as planned, there's always a wiser choice to make.
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