Overcoming Analysis Paralysis

Faced with too many choices, our minds can shut down and seek the easiest path forward—usually, the default path. (Often, that path is inaction.)

This can be our situation when it comes to advocating for animals, if we think we should try to "do it all". If we think we need to do everything and help out everywhere, then we will respond by either (a) doing nothing, or (b) making our choices impulsively. Ironically, by thinking that we need to do more, we actually do less. 📉

But a better path is available, and it involves three actions.

First, decide how you want to make your decision of where to help out. Are you looking to advocate in a way that's a good fit for your professional skillset? Or something that's local, where you can meet up with people in-person? Or do you just want to aim for the largest impact, whatever that is? If you figure out what's important to you, then you'll know how to filter your options. 📝

Second, you explore your advocacy options, evaluating them by the criteria that you selected above. Your criteria can help you make choices about what's relevant and not, by focusing on a small number of characteristics. "Exploration" can also be very active—getting out there and experimenting with real choices. Try things out; dip your toes in for a bit. 🔎

Finally, you commit to something for a period of time, dive in, and don't worry so much about everything else. You've identified your niche—now, do the best job with it that you can. When this period of time is up, you can pause, reassess, and choose again if you want. ✊

We can't evaluate all of our options on a daily basis—we would be constantly overwhelmed by options and nothing would ever get done. (🤯) So this process helps us narrow down, choose, and then commit for a while. By doing this, we can overcome "analysis paralysis" and get some real work done for animals.