Sometimes making a decision isn’t hard because the options are complex; it’s hard because we don’t want to deal with the hassle. One of the most common decision-making styles that many people fall into often without realizing it is the avoidant style. In this model, people postpone decisions, hand them over to someone else, or hope the problem will just solve itself through silence and inaction. At first glance, this might seem like a good way to escape anxiety or regret. But in practice? It can cost us important opportunities and even make things worse. Let’s look at a few key questions about this avoidant style of decision-making:
1. What are the features of avoidant decision-making?
Procrastination: waiting until the last minute or until a crisis forces us to act.
Escaping choice: choosing the default option or doing nothing at all just to avoid the mental effort.
Delegating to others: passing the responsibility to a friend, family member, or even “fate.”
Waiting for a miracle: hoping the problem will solve itself or that circumstances will magically change.
2. Why do we avoid making decisions?
Fear of a bad outcome: we don’t want to face regret or failure, so we avoid deciding in case we’re wrong.
Decision fatigue: the brain has limits; after a day full of small and big decisions, we may not even have the energy to decide what to eat for dinner.
Uncertainty and confusion: when we don’t know what’s right, or when the situation is too unclear, avoidance feels like the easiest response.
High stakes: the bigger the potential consequences, the more tempting avoidance becomes.
Anxiety and fear of regret: even the thought of “what if I make a mistake?” can make us give up on deciding altogether.
3. What are the consequences of avoiding decisions?
Missed opportunities: when we don’t decide, many good chances slip away.
Worsening problems: issues left unresolved usually don’t fix themselves they get worse.
Strained relationships: constantly handing decisions to others can cause frustration, resentment, or exhaustion in them.
Habitual indecision: this style can solidify into a chronic pattern of indecisiveness that’s very hard to break.
Of course, avoidance isn’t always bad. Sometimes it makes sense—like when the situation is truly uncertain and no decision would help, or when the problem might realistically resolve on its own, or when the person asking us for a decision isn’t really serious themselves.
Avoidant decision-making is a very human and common reaction. But if we don’t notice it, it can hold us back from growth, peace, and success. Sometimes we just need to sit with ourselves honestly and ask: “Am I not deciding because I really don’t know what to do? Or because I don’t want to face the anxiety that comes with it?” Self-awareness is the first step to breaking free from this cycle.
