Don’t Slide, Decide: How Clarity Stops Decision Fatigue Before It Starts

Have you ever looked back on a major life decision and realized you didn’t really decide at all? You just kind of…slid into it.

Maybe you moved in with a partner because it was convenient. Or you stayed in a job because the next step felt murky. You agreed to a new responsibility at work—not because it aligned with your goals—but because it was the path of least resistance.

This phenomenon is what my guest Abby Davisson calls “sliding instead of deciding,” and once you hear that phrase, you start to see it everywhere. It’s not just a personal issue—it happens in businesses, relationships, careers, and product development too.

The problem isn’t that we don’t care. It’s that we don’t always have the clarity or energy to pause and decide with intention. And that’s where things start to go sideways.

Sliding Feels Safe—But It Can Steal Your Momentum

Sliding is seductive. It feels fast. It avoids friction. It lets you delay the hard questions. But in the long run, it can cost you time, alignment, and joy.

You may end up in a role that looks good on paper but drains you. You might take on projects that don’t reflect your priorities. Or you could build a life that matches someone else’s values, not your own.

This isn’t about shame—it’s about awareness. As I shared in my TEDx talk, There’s Nothing Magical About Monday, we often wait for an external signal to make a change. But what we really need is internal clarity—a sense of what matters, so we can design our lives and work accordingly.

Why Clarity Is a Productivity Superpower

One of the most powerful ideas from Abby’s book Money & Love is that clarity is the very first step in making better decisions—and I couldn’t agree more. In fact, it’s the foundation of all truly thoughtful action.

Clarity doesn’t just help you know what to do. It helps you:

• Say no to the wrong things faster.

• Feel more confident in your yeses.

• Save energy by avoiding constant second-guessing.

Without clarity, everything feels equally urgent or equally uncertain. That’s how we get stuck. We overthink. We procrastinate. Or we slide right into the decision that feels easiest in the moment—without checking if it’s actually right for us.

Try This: A “Sliding” Check-In Using the 5 Cs

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain, it may not be because you have too many choices—it could be because you haven’t paused to clarify what matters. Abby’s 5 Cs offer a simple but powerful framework to guide any big decision, especially when you suspect you’re sliding instead of deciding.

Here’s how to apply them in your own reflection:

1. Clarify: What do I actually want in this situation—and what do I know I don’t want? Am I operating from my values or someone else’s expectations?

2. Communicate: Who else will be impacted by this decision? Have I talked to them honestly and listened to their perspectives?

3. Choices: Am I considering a broad enough range of options, or am I limiting myself to what feels obvious or easy?

4. Check In: Who can I ask for advice or insight? Are there mentors, friends, or trusted voices I could consult before moving forward?

5. Consequences: What are the short- and long-term effects of each path I’m considering? How will this decision ripple into other areas of my life or work?

Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, a personal relationship, or even a big project at work, walking through these five steps can help you move from default mode into deliberate action. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s intention.

Brainy Thought of the Week

We all slide sometimes. That’s part of being human. But when we pause, reflect, and choose with intention, everything shifts. Our work feels more aligned. Our time feels better spent. And our decisions—big or small—start to reflect who we are and what we truly value.

Whether it’s a job, a move, a relationship, or a project you’re considering (or avoiding), clarity can be the difference between sliding into something that “just happens” and deciding to build something that truly fits.

So here’s your nudge for today: Don’t slide. Decide. And let clarity lead the way.

BE thoughtful,

Melina Palmer

PS: What’s one decision you’ve been sliding on—and what would it look like to decide with intention instead? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or over on LinkedIn.

And for more insights and practical tools, be sure to check out episode 507 of The Brainy Business podcast with Abby Davisson, and her book Money & Love.