Better Decision making
Shaping a future your future self will thank you for.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself in a very familiar situation. As someone juggling many roles and responsibilities, I started to drop the ball in different areas of my life. Eventually, the stress caught up with me, and I fell ill—knocked out for a couple of days.
To some, listing all my commitments might sound like a humblebrag, but to me, it reveals a weakness: I had no slack. Moving house, for instance, took far more time than I anticipated. I was stretched too thin.
Why Is Slack Important?
Slack is like a safety net—it gives you room to breathe and recharge. It lets you take your time when needed and handle surprises with less panic and more control. Slack also creates space for daydreaming and creativity, letting your mind wander and explore. Often, our best ideas come when we’re in the shower, on public transport, or doing something mundane—activities that don’t demand our attention but still keep us away from distractions like phones or endless to-do lists.
When I recognized the trap I was falling into, I made an effort to focus on what I could control. I delegated tasks, delayed others, and asked for help when I needed it. I prioritized good sleep and nourishing food. These steps helped, but the constant feeling of barely keeping it all together created a low-level stress that made me more vulnerable to illness. Once I got sick, I relied on meditation and self-hypnosis to recover faster, but I was still out of commission for two days.
For Actors: The Balancing Act
If you’re an actor, you’ve already said “yes” to one of the most unpredictable careers out there. That initial “yes” leads to more decisions, each requiring your time, energy, and finances. Staying available for acting work often means making compromises—like renting near a major city or taking flexible jobs to support your passion.
Balancing your vocation, your business, and your personal life can quickly lead to overwhelm. You might feel like you’re underperforming in every area. When a ill considered “yes” from three months ago clashes with a "yes” required today, the weight of those decisions starts to compound.
Does this sound familiar? Do you often say “yes” to opportunities that eventually cost you more time or money than you anticipated? Do you struggle with delivering as you hope under the weight of overwhelm?
A Game-Changer for Decision-Making
Recently, I read a book called “Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results”, and I wish I’d found it sooner—like… in school! The book distills its concepts into a simple, practical framework for making better choices. While the message is repeated throughout the book to reinforce it (which can bug), the real magic happens when you apply it.
Here’s a challenge: pick a decision you’ve already made and review it using the steps below. Then try it with a big decision you’re currently facing. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Decision-Making Steps
1. Define What You Want For example, I want to support my vocation as an actor.
2. Set Criteria for Success What conditions need to be met for the best outcome?
A job I enjoy
A short commute (around 30 minutes)
Flexibility for other commitments (e.g. part-time or adjustable hours …. slack ;-) )
Opportunities to learn skills that support my acting (e.g., video editing for social media)
Decent pay to make the time and travel worthwhile
3. Explore Your Options Come up with at least three choices. Here’s a template:
A: Apply for Job X.
B: Ask yourself, “What do I need to learn or research to better understand the obstacles and steps?”
C: What happens if it succeeds? If it fails? How does it align with my criteria?
4. Assess Flexibility and Balance If an option doesn’t fully meet your criteria, can other benefits make up for it? For example, does the job allow shift-swapping to accommodate auditions? Is it compatible with both your work and your acting aspirations? Ask yourself the timeless question: What is within my control?
5. At what cost? What does this decision mean you can’t do, or might lose?
6. Compare Your Choices Evaluate each option against your criteria and decide which aligns best with your goals.
Remember, there will always be surprises, and you can’t control everything. But by learning to make better big decisions, you’re shaping a future your future self will thank you for.
