#188 12 ways to make decision-making easier (and why people who hoard find it so hard to make decisions in the first place!)

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Decision-making can be a huge stumbling block when you’re trying to tackle hoarding, from cognitive overload to perfectionism and decision fatigue. In this episode, I unpack why making choices about our belongings feels so overwhelming, what can go wrong if we avoid it, and I share practical strategies to make the process more manageable. If you find yourself stuck in analysis paralysis or endlessly putting off decisions, this one’s for you.

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• Introduction to Decision Making and Hoarding
• Decision making as a common issue among hoarders
• Overwhelm and avoidance connected to belongings and acquiring new items
• Episode aims: understanding why decision making is hard, consequences of indecision, and strategies to help
• Why Decision Making is Difficult for People Who Hoard
• Cognitive Overload
• Too many items to process, making each choice feel monumental
• Resulting in avoidance and deferral of decisions
• Accumulation due to unresolved decisions
• Analysis Paralysis
• Being stuck analysing endless options and outcomes
• Difficulty prioritising and overthinking decisions
• Exhaustion from mental effort
• Information Processing Challenges
• Trouble prioritising urgency and importance
• Struggling to filter necessary versus unnecessary information
• Being trapped in unresolvable decision loops
• Emotional Barriers
• Perfectionism and fear of making the wrong decision
• Catastrophising possible negative outcomes
• All-or-nothing thinking relating to perfectionism
• Sentimental Attachment
• Struggles with emotional connection to items (gifts, memories)
• Difficulty discerning genuine sentimental value
• Fear of the Future
• Anxiety about future need or regret causing paralysis
• Preference for clinging to items over risking discomfort
• Executive Function Challenges
• Difficulties with planning, organising, prioritising, and initiating tasks
• Impact of poor working memory on decision making
• Consequences of Avoiding Decisions
• Vicious Cycle of Procrastination
• Accumulation of clutter, increased overwhelm and fatigue
• Practical Implications
• Safety hazards and restricted home usage
• Social isolation and relationship strain due to inability to host
• Emotional Impact
• Stress, depression, guilt, and shame
• Financial Consequences
• Extra spending, buying duplicates, damage or loss of items, missed bills and penalties
• Building Negative Self-Perceptions
• Belief in inability to decide reinforces avoidance
• Declining self-trust and self-esteem
• Strategies and Techniques for Improving Decision Making
• Identify Resistance and Mental Blocks
• Questioning internal "nope" responses
• Understanding fears or overwhelming factors behind avoidance
• Treat Decisions as Experiments
• Lowering pressure by seeing outcomes as learning experiences
• Avoiding a pass/fail mindset
• Make Micro-Decisions
• Starting with low-stakes, emotionally neutral items
• Building decision-making confidence ("decision muscle")
• Utilise Support Systems
• Seeking feedback or accountability from friends, family, organisers, or therapists
• Sense-checking and encouragement from others
• Clarify Values and Priorities
• Aligning decisions with personal goals (e.g., hospitality, functionality, beauty)
• Using values as a decision compass
• Set Time Limits
• Imposing limits per decision to prevent overthinking
• Adjusting duration as confidence improves
• Accept “Good Enough” Decisions
• Allowing for adequacy over perfection
• Challenging double standards around self-expectations versus others
• Reduce Number of Choices
• Limiting possible options (e.g., keep/throw/donate)
• Pre-determining criteria to streamline choices
• Reality Checks
• Probing feelings of “I might need it” with practical questions
• Reviewing usage fr