When "Not Deciding" is Actually a Decision

Apr 3

We’re in the middle of a series on how to become more decisive on the Decision Masters Podcast, and today we’re talking about something that usually comes up in passing but deserves its own entire episode — or for our purposes here, blog.

Are you ready? Here it is:

Deciding that now is not the time to make this decision.

Yeah, you read that right. There are actually times when choosing not to decide right now is the most decisive thing you can do.

Let me explain.

Not Indecisive—Just Smart About Timing

I once worked with a client who ran a company and came to me because he wanted to be more decisive. He believed he had a habit of putting decisions off, and he didn’t like that.

But as we started dissecting his decision-making process—especially in meetings and interactions with his employees—it became clear that he wasn’t actually indecisive. He was making plenty of decisions, just not the ones he thought he was supposed to.

What he was actually doing was deciding things like:

Right now, I don’t have enough information to make a choice I trust.
This conversation doesn’t allow enough time to make a well-thought-out decision.
This isn’t urgent, so we’re going to focus on something more pressing today.

But because he wasn’t framing it that way in his own mind, he was labeling himself as indecisive instead of recognizing his own clarity.

Here’s the thing: how you think about yourself matters. And if you constantly tell yourself, Ugh, I’m so indecisive, it’s easy to believe that. But what if some of those moments you’re calling "indecision" are actually you being smart about timing?

Say It Out Loud: "Now Is Not the Time"

I had my client start verbalizing his decisions when he postponed something. Instead of just not making a call, he started saying:

"I’m going to decide that now is not the time for this decision. Here’s why. Here’s when we’ll revisit it."

This does two things:

It forces you to be intentional about when and why you’re delaying a decision.
It helps you (and everyone around you) see that you’re not avoiding decisions—you’re structuring them.

This doesn’t mean you have to set a deadline if it’s not necessary. You don’t have to stress yourself out with some arbitrary “by Tuesday” timeline if that doesn’t make sense. But it does mean you’re taking control of when you’ll make the decision, rather than letting it linger in the background, making you feel bad.

Why This Clears Up Mental Overload

You know that overwhelmed feeling when you have a million “open loops” in your brain—decisions that still need to be made? Those open loops take up so much mental energy, even if they’re written down neatly on a list.

But when you decide on purpose that a decision belongs to “future me,” your brain stops treating it like an emergency. It’s not hanging over you like a dark cloud—it’s scheduled, like a dentist appointment. You wouldn’t spend all week feeling stressed that your dentist appointment hasn’t happened yet, right?

This is how we want to treat our later decisions.

The Difference Between Thoughtful Timing & Fear-Based Delaying

Now, does this mean you should put off every decision just because you don’t feel like making it? No. This is where awareness comes in.

When you start paying attention to why you’re putting something off, you’ll start seeing patterns:

Are you waiting because you don’t have the information you need? Smart.
Are you waiting because you’re exhausted and would rather make the call with a well-rested brain? Reasonable.
Are you waiting because you’re afraid of getting it wrong? Okay, now we have something to work with.
Are you waiting because someone might not like your choice? Oof. That’s not helpful.
Are you waiting because you feel like you should research for five more hours even though you already know what you want to do? Yeah… we gotta talk.

If the reason is fear-based, that is where we clean things up. But if it’s about making a better decision at a better time, that’s decisiveness in action.

Try It Today

So here’s your takeaway:

Notice when you’re choosing to put off a decision.
Say it out loud (or write it down): I am deciding that now is not the time for this decision.
Name why.
If necessary, schedule when you will revisit it.

This small tweak can completely change how you see yourself as a decision-maker. And the less mental weight you carry, the more energy you have for what actually needs your attention.

So, go forth. Be decisive. Even when that means deciding not to decide—yet.

Wait, I need more help!

Is it time to work together? I help overthinking high-achievers trust their choices.

Whether you need help being more decisive, taking up more space in your own life, or truly figuring out what you want so you can take action on it — coaching with me gives you guidance, accountability and an expert in your corner.

We’ll use science-backed tools and proven strategies to change mental and physical habits, decrease your baseline overwhelm, and grow your self-trust to the point that you make clear, conscious, self-honoring decisions with ease, daily.

It starts — naturally — with some decisive action.

Book your no-strings Free Consultation where we’ll talk like humans, break down your goals, identify a path forward, and figure out if we’re a fit to work together.