Certain decisions are worthy of more consideration than others. For example, choosing whether or not to go for tea or coffee in the morning probably warrants a few seconds at most. Deciding whether or not to get breast enlargement surgery, meanwhile, is the kind of decision that might deserve months of contemplation.

When making one of these life-altering decisions, there are a few very important questions you should be asking yourself before you pull the trigger. Because some of these decisions don’t come with take-backs!

Who are you doing it for?

Are you making this decision for yourself or somebody else? Because if it’s the latter then you seriously want to consider what kind of decision you’re making. Any life-changing decision that’s going to significantly impact yourself should be done if not for you then for somebody who has your best interests genuinely at heart.

Might you regret it later?

It’s a horrible thing to contemplate but there’s nothing worse than that feeling of stepping off the ledge and then realising you never wanted to jump in the first place when it’s too late. Work through your decision from every angle and ask yourself sincerely if you think there’s even a remote chance you might regret your choice further on up the road.

Should you overthink it?

Overthinking something is often perceived as being a bad thing but that’s not always necessarily the case. Introspection is a wonderful compatriot of good judgement that shows you’re aware enough to  analyse your own thoughts. If you think you’re making a decision based on a knee-jerk reaction or a strong negative emotion then you probably need to overthink it a little.

Have I done my homework?

Any huge life decisions not only deserves deliberation but research too. Ensure you’ve explored every available angle and know exactly what it is you’re basing your decision on. You should also make sure you are not making this decision on the spur of the moment and taking the time to accrue lots of data on the decision means you’re less likely to rush into it.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Not just a catchy slogan for a soft drink, this is the last question that should run through your mind before you make that final decision. It’s certainly not pleasant but it could be necessary to think through all of the worst things that could happen as a result of your decision. This includes all of the potential risks. Because if you plan for the worst you’ll be better prepared for the best.