Even as a kid, Lily struggled with making decisions when it came to her health.

When given the choice to watch TV or go outside and play, she often chose the path of less resistance.

She struggled to make healthy choices with her nutrition too. When given the choice of oatmeal or a bowl of Sugar Os with cow's milk, she selected the sweetest option. 

In her 60s, Lily continued to battle fatigue, weight gain, and a general lack of vitality.

After a recent health scare that landed her in the hospital, Lily's doctor suggest that making quick decisions, especially when it came to her health, could lead to transformative results.

Lily was inspired and decided to put this theory to the test.

She immediately made a list of healthy habits she wanted to adopt—regular exercise, a balanced diet, and a consistent sleep schedule.

Without hesitation, Lily laced up her running shoes and power-walked to the nearest park.

She started jogging, feeling the wind brush against her face and the adrenaline pumping through her veins.

The initial discomfort quickly transformed into a sense of accomplishment and joy.

Lily realized that her fast decision to exercise had already begun to make her feel healthier.

Next, she made rapid changes to her diet, swapping sugary snacks for fresh fruits and vegetables. She researched healthy recipes, shopped for nutritious ingredients, and started cooking her meals at home.

In no time, Lily noticed her energy levels soar, and her body became leaner and stronger.

Embracing the power of fast decisions, Lily also prioritized her sleep. She set a strict bedtime routine, turning off electronic devices and creating a tranquil environment in her bedroom.

The restful nights allowed her body to rejuvenate, and she woke up feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the day.

As the weeks went by, Lily marveled at the positive changes she experienced. A friend recommended resistance training as a way to slow aging so Lily added that activity to her morning exercise routine.

Not only did her physical health improve, but her mental wellbeing soared. She felt happier, more focused, and relaxed.

The power of fast decisions had transformed her life in ways she never imagined. Lily became an inspiration to those around her.

Friends and family noticed her newfound radiance and asked for her secret. She gladly shared her story, encouraging others to make swift choices in pursuit of better health.

Truth is, making fast decisions is the key to a healthier, happier life. Sometimes, all it takes is a quick choice to build your best life.

How to Make Decisions Faster

Life is a series of choices, and your ability to make them swiftly and confidently can greatly impact your success, happiness, and overall wellbeing.

If you're over the age of 40, and you've gained some unwanted weight or feel out-of-shape, it’s going to take commitment to rebuild your body.

But what do most people do? They start something new, all excited, and when it doesn’t work as well as they had hoped, they go and try something else. They dabble.

Now personally, even though I’ve been very involved in the fitness industry, when it comes to slowing the natural aging process, I prefer to play the long game.

By focusing on the fundamentals, I produce measurable change in my client's lives and help them create generational health, rather than just mindlessly "go to the gym" to use the equipment.

I've served as a professional fitness-and-nutrition coach for more than 25 years and delivered over 100,000 body-transformation programs worldwide.

And, with all of this experience, I have a personal hypothesis regarding why my clients succeed at a higher rate than regular gym goers.

My coaching clients are committed, just like the pig in the "Chicken-and-Pig" fable. They commit to the coaching agreement, the systems, and the approach. They’re all in.

In this lesson, you'll learn actionable strategies inspired by my own experiences and primal wisdom, empowering you to make decisions faster and with greater clarity.

1. Embrace simplicity

When faced with a decision, it's important to simplify the process. Break down complex choices into their fundamental components, focusing on what truly matters.

Strip away unnecessary distractions and ask yourself, "What outcome aligns best with my values and goals?" By adopting a minimalist mindset, you can eliminate decision fatigue and hone in on what's truly essential.

2. Trust your intuition

Deep within you lies an intuitive compass that can guide you towards the right path. Learn to listen to that voice.

While data and analysis have their place, sometimes your gut feelings provide valuable insights that can't be quantified. Embrace mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling to cultivate self-awareness and tap into your innate wisdom.

Trust your instincts and let them serve as a valuable tool in your decision-making arsenal.

3. Define clear criteria

To make decisions faster, establish clear criteria beforehand. Determine the key factors that influence your choice and assign them relative importance.

For example, if you're deciding on a new job opportunity, consider factors such as compensation, work-life balance, growth potential, and cultural fit. By establishing a decision-making framework, you can eliminate ambiguity and streamline the process.

4. Seek perspective

When faced with a complex decision, it's beneficial to seek outside perspective. Engage in conversations with trusted mentors, friends, or family members who can provide valuable insights and challenge your assumptions.

Remember to approach this with an open mind, as diverse perspectives can broaden your horizons and reveal new angles you may have overlooked. However, be mindful not to let external opinions overshadow your own convictions.

5. Limit analysis paralysis

While gathering information is crucial, there comes a point when excessive analysis can hinder decision-making. Avoid falling into the trap of analysis paralysis, where you endlessly search for more data or opinions. Use the Pomodoro Technique if you are struggling with time management.

Set a deadline for yourself to make a decision and trust that you have gathered sufficient information to move forward. Remember, it's better to make a timely decision and learn from it than to endlessly deliberate and miss out on opportunities.

6. Take calculated risks

Decisions are often accompanied by an element of risk. Embrace the notion that risk is an inherent part of growth and progress. Instead of being paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice, view decisions as opportunities for growth.

Develop a calculated risk-taking mindset by assessing potential risks, evaluating potential rewards, and determining your risk tolerance. By doing so, you can make decisions more swiftly, confidently, and with a growth-oriented mindset.

7. Embrace failure as a teacher

Decisions don't always lead to the desired outcomes, and that's okay. Embrace failure as an essential part of the learning process.

Analyze the consequences of your decisions, reflect on what went wrong, and extract valuable lessons for future choices. By reframing failure as a stepping stone towards growth and improvement, you'll be more resilient and better equipped to make faster, more informed decisions.

8. Practice decision fitness

Similar to physical fitness, decision fitness is cultivated through regular practice and discipline. Challenge yourself to make smaller decisions quickly on a daily basis.

This could involve choosing what to eat for breakfast, deciding which book to read, or determining your workout routine. By flexing your decision-making muscles regularly, you'll enhance your ability to make more significant choices with confidence and speed.

9. Embody the 80/20 Principle

The 80/20 principle, also known as the Pareto Principle, states that 80% of your desired outcomes can be achieved through 20% of your efforts. Apply this principle to your decision-making process by identifying the vital few factors that will have the greatest impact on your desired outcome.

Focus your energy and resources on these critical elements, bypassing unnecessary complexities. By doing so, you'll make decisions more efficiently and achieve optimal results.

One of my coaching clients is a pro when it comes to making good nutrition decisions. The problem is, well, he operates at a snail’s pace.

He preps meals infrequently; however, when he does prep, the meals are perfectly portioned and delicious.

And, again, even though he almost always makes the right moves, he makes them slowly.

He could become more successful merely by increasing the velocity of his decisions.

There’s 25-plus years of coaching wisdom in that one sentence alone, so read it twice.

He moves so slowly because he’s not confident. He needs a ton of facts, a ton of data, and a ton of reassurance before he will pull the trigger on anything.

A lot of successful men and women, over the age of 40, operate this way. I like to think of it as the “confidence/capability cycle.”

When you’re confident, you make decisions quickly and take action even faster. As a result of that, you “learn as you go” and become more capable.

Because you’re more capable, you become more confident. And because you’re more confident, you eventually become more capable, and so on.

It’s an upward spiral that showers you with confidence and capability as long as you’ll let it.

The hard part is creating the initial spark to get your motor running. Sometimes it requires a leap of faith.

That’s how I got started with my coaching career. On day one, I had very little confidence and virtually no capability. But I started learning and applying my knowledge.

I saw that certain things worked, and certain things didn’t. I got more confidence, which led me to try bigger and better things. Some of those things worked and some of them didn’t.

The things that worked gave me the confidence to go even bigger, and that momentum has continued to this day.

What's my point? Sometimes you don’t need a million “tactics” or some motivational speech you watch on FaceTube.

Sometimes all you need is paint-by-numbers system to get started.  If you want to create your Ideal Body (the leanest, strongest, happiest version of yourself), you must own these two beliefs:

• Your current body and your current life are a result of the choices you've made to this point.
• Your future body and future life are going to be a result of your choices from this moment forward.

You are a sum of your choices. Plain and simple.

You are in your current situation because you've chosen to be there. You may not always like it but it's true.

Sure you can say, "I didn't choose to feel out-of-shape and unhappy today."

But you did choose the approach, or lack of approach, you took to be leaner, stronger, and happier.

It may not feel good to read this if you're not thrilled with your present circumstances; but the truth is that it's AWESOME.

Building your best life begins with understanding your tremendous powers of personal choice.

It comes down to taking personal responsibility for the hundreds of choices, big and small, that you make each day.

You have exactly what it takes to build your Ideal Body. Simply put, it starts with making better decisions.

You can control what you choose when it comes to:

• What you focus on
• What success is to you
• Who you learn from
• Who you hang around and how you connect with them
• How you spend your time
• How you serve others
• Controlling your schedule
• Controlling your finances
• Leading by example
• Developing yourself

So if you want something better, know that it starts with you and your choices. And that's a great thing.

You don't need anyone's approval or permission. Just get started.

Take imperfect action right now. 

Summary:

There are proven strategies to help you make decisions faster, with increased confidence and clarity. Embrace simplicity, trust your intuition, seek perspective, and practice decision fitness regularly. Decisions are the stepping stones to personal growth and success, and by honing your decision-making skills, you unlock a world of endless possibilities. You can increase your success by increasing the velocity of your decisions. When you make bold choices, your life unfolds in remarkable ways.

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women lose weight, gain strength, and slow aging. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to increase longevity with the best online age-management program, or you want to visit the best age-management program in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.