Decision Ease

Decision Ease

Tired of overthinking every decision - big or small? You're in the right place. The Decision Ease Podcast helps smart, high-achieving humans stop spiraling and start deciding with more clarity, confidence, and calm. Whether you're stuck between two career options, second-guessing your boundaries, or just want to stop spending 45 minutes to craft a text response - this show is here to help. Every week, Kirsten Parker, Decision Coach for Overthinkers, gives you simple, science-backed tools to improve your decision-making process - so you can make intentional choices and trust yourself more (without needing a spreadsheet or a pros/cons list every time). You’ll learn how to: 👉 Cut through mental clutter and clarify what matters 👉 Stop second-guessing and feel good about your decisions 👉 Build daily habits of confident decision-making 👉 Apply the Decision Ease Framework to real-life situations 👉 Have more self-compassion and quiet your yappy inner critic when it comes to mistakes or imperfection Episodes are short, conversational, and full of real talk — with no pressure to be perfect. If you're a high-functioning overthinker, recovering perfectionist, or just someone who wants to make better decisions with less stress, subscribe now and make Decision Ease your new normal!

Episodes

October 2, 2025 15 mins

It’s time for an End-of-Year Detox!

This is a perfect time of year to clear mental clutter, zoom out on what actually matters, and align your next 90-ish days with what you really want—so December 31st you feels proud, not like “what just happened?” 

You get a 3-part exercise today (but I don’t want you to skip it ‘cause it feels big, so I made sure you can do it on a ...

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If you’ve ever bent a decision around “not wanting to feel guilty,” this one’s for you.

Today we separate guilt (outward, action/outcome-focused: “I did something wrong”) from shame (inward, identity-focused: “I am wrong”).

Which matters because when you can spot authentic emotions that help you repair or realign—you can drop the inauthentic, habitual stuff that only fuels people-pleasing,...

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Do you ever judge your decisions by how things turned out? Yup - you and most everyone else! And it’s one of the biggest mistakes we’re all making.

In this episode, I’ll help you separate outcomes from decisions, so you can stop beating yourself up over things you couldn’t control and start celebrating the way you made choices - even if they don’t end up how you want.

Here’s where we go:

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The holiday season can be joyful…and exhausting 🫠!

But what if you could make it easier now - before the rush begins?

In this episode, I’ll walk you through three tiny decisions you can make today that will reduce stress, help you prioritize what matters, and leave you feeling more present when the year wraps up.

And ps, these aren’t just for the holidays - you can apply them anywhere you’re tempted to overthink, ove...

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Some choices just don’t need to take hours of your life.

Dinner, outfits, where to put that picture frame…low-stakes decisions often feel heavy because of the state you’re in and the pressure you put on yourself to get them “right.”

This week, I’ll show you the simplest 2-part formula to help you cut through the noise and move on:

  1. Notice your state (mental, physical, emotional).

  2. Decide what matters right now. ...

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August 28, 2025 14 mins

Ever wonder why deciding what’s for dinner or where to hang a picture can feel like a high-stakes exam? 🤯

It’s actually not a "bad outcome" that we tend to fear - it’s that the experience of not liking your choice feels heavy.

In this episode, we unpack the three habits that secretly make small decisions harder than they need to be:

  • Self-judgment: the inner critic that won’t let up.

  • Self-abandonment: punishing you...

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Last week, we talked about when changing course is the smartest move. This week, we’re flipping the script: what if the wisest thing you can do is stick with your original decision?

Sometimes staying the course feels boring, scary, or uncomfortable — which makes it easy to second guess yourself.

But discomfort isn’t always a signal that you’ve made the wrong choice.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the signs that st...

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Changing course doesn’t have to mean you’ve failed, given up, or lost your edge.

Nor does it have to be the biggest drama of the decade!

In this episode, we’re talking about those moments when the little voice in your head says, “I think it’s time for a change…” — and how to decide if changing course is actually the smartest move you can make.

You’ll learn:

  • Why your brain is wired to stick with the familiar (even whe...

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You make hundreds of decisions every day — but what if a few bigger ones could make all those small ones easier?

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 foundational decisions I’ve made that cut down my mental load, reduce friction, and help me move through the day with less stress (and more ease).

These aren’t surface-level habits — they’re upstream choices that shape how I show up, what matters, and what I don’t let bother me.

Yo...

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If you’ve ever said “I can’t do this alone, but all of it needs to happen” — this episode is for you!

Today I’m joined by virtual assistant and organizing wizard Shannon South, CEO of Lifetime Stress Relief. Shannon helps women get out from under the chaos and bring calm to the daily swirl of tasks and ideas — especially those with ADHD brains and a million tabs open (literally and figuratively).

Here's where we go:

  • W...
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You’re smart, capable, and constantly improving — but if you still end most days wondering what you actually accomplished (and low-key doubting every choice you made), this episode is for you.

We’re talking about the brain habits that keep high-achievers stuck in “not good enough” mode, and how to train your brain to see the good.

You’ll learn:

  • Why noticing your good decisions isn’t toxic positivity — it’s a power mo...

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If you've ever felt stuck between “being good with money” and actually enjoying your life — this conversation is for you.

In this episode, I’m joined by Financial Coach Christina Edel, who helps her clients pay off debt, build savings, and hit their money goals without sacrificing joy, values, or real life in the process.

This juicy conversation includes:

  • How to define your money vision so your goals feel g...

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Are you spending six to seven work weeks every year just deciding what to eat, wear, and watch? 😳 

Sorry not sorry — it's true. The average person is. 

Today’s episode is here to give you that time back.

In this quick and practical episode, we’re talking about a concept from the world of behavioral economics that every overthinker needs in their back pocket: Satisficing (yep, it’s a real word).

You’ll learn...

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Let’s talk about that low-key fear that shapes your day more than you realize.

In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple mindset tool I used almost every day during a trip abroad last year — and how it helped me make clearer, more confident choices instead of letting fear or resistance decide for me.

Plus, it's one of the most critical questions you can ask when making a big ("scary") life choice - as long as ...

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Feeling overwhelmed? All the small tasks you keep putting off might be contributing (more than you think)!

This week’s episode is your permission slip to hit pause on everything else and reclaim your peace — with a Bottom-of-the-List Day.

Here's where we go: 
✅ Why those “not urgent, not important” tasks mega-drain your energy
✅ How unfinished tasks create open loops and quiet anxiety
✅ A simple, satisfyin...

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This week, we’re throwing it back to one of my favorite episodes from 2023: the Midyear Reflect & Reset

It includes a free downloadable worksheet to help you do a simple, powerful reset no matter when you're listening.

You'll walk away with:

  • A guided framework for taking stock of your year so far

  • Prompts to celebrate wins, honor hard stuff, and course-correct with clarity

  • One crucial question to shape ...

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Are you actually overthinking… or just being thorough?

And how do you tell the difference?

In this quick episode, we’re digging into one of the biggest mindset traps I see with clients — and giving you super actionable ways to take your decision-making process off auto-pilot (without forcing yourself to "just go faster").

We’ll cover:
✅ How to tell if your decision process is a problem — or just your style
✅ The en...

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This week, we’re tackling one of the sneakiest habits high-functioning overthinkers fall into: making everything harder than it needs to be.

From your day-to-day to your biggest goals, overcomplicating your plans might be costing you time, energy, and results — and today, I’m showing you how to stop.

I’m walking you through two real-life examples (one goal-oriented, one daily-life related), and giving you the two HQQs (hig...

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What happens when a former anxious overthinker goes to London with no plan?

This week, I’m walking you through the real-life experiment I ran last month: a 4-day solo trip to London with one plan (see the Harry Potter show) and zero itinerary. My goal? To enjoy myself without burning brain energy on constant second-guessing or planning every minute of the day.

In this episode, I’m sharing the decision-making s...

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Ok so you're an expert second-guesser. I've gotchyoo.

And I've got a super simple solution for you too: You just need to change where your attention goes after you make a decision.

This episode is about one of the most common friction points I help clients with: the habit of second-guessing. It’s not about perfection or not caring about mistakes — it’s about inte...

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