I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt

by Madeleine Dore

A COLLECTION OF CHOICES FOR MAKING CHOICES For when you don’t know what you want, try to focus on what you want to be—lighthearted, spontaneous, curious, brave. For when you’re second-guessing whether something will make you happy, ask if it will expand or diminish your life. For when you’re caught between two good options, imagine what your future day will look like. If you don’t like the sight of a desk, for example, don’t take the office job. For when you are fearful, make the choice that will put you more into the world and connect you with the people you cherish. For when neither choice is appealing, choose the problem you want to have—or, as Mae West put it, “When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I’ve never tried before.” For trivial decisions, don’t underestimate the simplicity of flipping a coin. Decision-making is like building a muscle, and if we learn to do it well for the small things, we will do it better with the big things, too. For when you’re unsure where a choice will take you, if it’s worth it, or if it will take too long, try to focus instead on what you might learn. The one thing you might never regret is learning something. For when you don’t know where to start, focus on the step in front of you. Do the next necessary thing instead of tripping yourself as you try to look a hundred steps ahead. For when you’re anxious and worried, try to recall your past successes and where you’ve encountered good things before. For when you’re...