I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not sure
Life throws us a lot of choices. Too many sometimes. We often can’t decide what to do, where to go, who to be with, etc. Driving itself has so many decisions each and every time we get behind the wheel it’s no wonder people get confused. To many people, multiple choices can lead to anxiety. This anxiety will quite often will lead to poor decision-making. However, there are solutions.
Recently I watched how a driver hesitated many times during their travels. It seemed at first like they were unsure of where they were going, but after that it just seemed as if they were just indecisive. Should they go or should they wait…is it safe to go…which way should they go…and so on. Indecision is often related to lack of self-confidence and a tendency to worry about potential problems. So how can someone who is so indecisive while driving improve? Here are a few ideas.
The first is to plan your route. Know exactly where you’re going. The ability to make decisions means that you must be able to see into the future. You need to see the implications of each of your possible actions. Planning your route means that you have to visualize where there will be the most traffic or how you can possibly avoid the most crowded roads or difficult turns. Planning your route also means where to go if there is a detour. Have an alternate plan.
If you’re going to place you haven’t been to before, know the name of the street just before the street you need to turn at so you know your turn is coming up. Also, if you know you have to make a left turn, ensure you’re in the correct lane well in advance. How many times have you seen drivers attempting a left turn from the right lane because they’re about to miss their turn? Instead of panicking and doing that make the next 3 right turns and go around the block. Once you’ve corrected the error, ignore it and move on.
Looking ahead – well ahead – will also give you more time to make decisions based on the traffic patterns and possible road construction. Those who look just a couple of vehicles ahead have less time to make choices. They often panic and make risky decisions. Looking to where you think you’ll be in at least the next 12 to 15 seconds in the city will often give you more time to see, think and decide what to do next.
Turn off as many of your distractions as possible. Focus on one thing – your driving – and that may help alleviate the anxiety. If a distraction causes a missed turn or lack of focus, pull over and take a break to gather up your thoughts. Once you’ve dealt with that, let it go. Consider that mini problem over and move on.
And finally, have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Be honest with yourself. Saying you’re confident to others when down deep you know you’re not is only asking for trouble. If you’re having trouble with something which often causes indecision, ask a professional for advice. I often get emails here asking for advice and I’m good with that. It’s what I do. That’s the decision I’ve made and I think it’s a good one.
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A good article, and GPS has gone a long way to help with navigation. Still, the points in the above article are relevant for drivers locating new places. Plan before heading out using tools such as Google Maps. And the technique of locating the names of streets prior to your turn is great! And never rely solely on a GPS unit – often these won’t bring you to the exact location. When in doubt, use your eyes.