How Do You Make Good Choices: Decision-Making in Uncertain Times

Life isn’t certain—especially in these uncertain times. Even the best-laid plans can be derailed by sudden deadlines, curveballs at work, or a toddler discovering the joy of marker on the walls. So, how do you make good choices when the world refuses to play by your carefully written rules? That’s the million-dollar question—and the very reason we need practical strategies to navigate uncertainty with clarity, confidence, and a little humor.

Planning is our lifeline—it keeps us from completely spiraling, gives us structure, and makes life feel slightly less chaotic. But even the best plans can’t anticipate everything. The good news? You can make smart choices in the moment. Here’s how:

How do you make good choices? Here’s five things to consider:

One – Exchange Overplanning for Present-Mindedness

Planning is your friend. But obsessing over every possibility? That’s the enemy of progress. Life is unpredictable. Sometimes the smartest choice comes when you stop trying to control everything and focus on what’s happening right now.

Present-mindedness isn’t just woo-woo meditation talk—it’s a decision-making superpower. Paying attention to what’s in front of you allows you to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting on autopilot.

For example: You’ve scheduled your day down to the last email, and a colleague asks for urgent help. Overplanning says, “Nope, can’t.” Present-mindedness says, “Let’s pivot like a pro and handle this without throwing my day under the bus.” That’s how good choices are born.

Think of it as clearing the fog on your mental windshield. When your head is full of noise, the road looks scary. Clear it, and suddenly your choices come into focus.

Two – Shift the Planning Mindset

Being present doesn’t mean tossing your calendar in the trash. It means adjusting your plans to match reality, especially when uncertain times throw curveballs you didn’t see coming.

Instead of obsessing over weeks, months, or years, zoom in on the here and now: day-to-day or hour-to-hour.

Set clear intentions. Ask yourself: What truly matters today? Maybe it’s helping a family member, nailing that one task at work, or being kind to yourself. Your intentions are like a compass—they guide your choices when life decides to throw curveballs.

Pro Tip: Treat your plans like flexible scaffolding, not rigid walls. They support you without boxing you in. A little adaptability now keeps your choices smarter and your stress lower.

Three – Reframe the Present Moment

Not every day will be a blockbuster of productivity—and that’s okay. Guilt for “not doing enough”? Toss it. Moving slower, adjusting expectations, and honoring your limits is not failure—it’s survival and strategy rolled into one.

Reframing your perspective helps you make good choices that prioritize well-being, consistency, and flexibility over perfection. This is the secret sauce for making decisions that actually work in the real world.

For example: You planned to crush a big project today, but your energy tank is empty. Instead of panicking, reframe: “I may not finish it, but I can make progress and still feel like a boss.” Boom. Thoughtful choice, done.

Four – Listen to Your Head, Heart, and Gut

Decision-making can feel like juggling chainsaws. One helpful framework: head, heart, and gut.

- Head: Rational assessment, spreadsheets, pros-and-cons.
- Heart: Emotional responses, your inner cheerleader (or critic).
- Gut: That quiet little voice that usually knows what’s up before your brain does.

Are you overthinking, over-feeling, or purely winging it? Harmonize all three, and you’ll make choices that honor both practical needs and deeper wisdom.

This step ties naturally into present-mindedness and intentional planning. When your head, heart, and gut are aligned, your decisions stop feeling like a circus and start feeling like strategy.

Five – Do Your Best and Trust the Process

Here’s the grand finale: gather what you know, clarify your intentions, and take action. Life is unpredictable, especially in uncertain times, and there’s rarely a perfect answer—so striving for perfection can keep you stuck.

- Control what you can.
- Let go of what you can’t.
- Progress over perfection.
- Trust yourself.

This step wraps all the previous ones into a single mindset: being present, intentional planning, reframing, and balancing head, heart, and gut. When you commit to this approach, you reduce stress, escape decision paralysis, and gain confidence—even when uncertainty is doing somersaults around you.

Remember: doing your best right now is the best choice you can make. The rest? Well, the universe will handle it.

So, how do you make good choices in uncertain times?

It isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence, intention, and balance. Combine planning with flexibility, focus on what matters in the moment, and listen to your head, heart, and gut.

Even when life is messy, you can make good choices—one intentional decision at a time. Because while you can’t control everything, you can control how thoughtfully, wisely, and sassily you respond. And that, my darling, is power.