3 Reasons Why Decision Making Gets Easier As You Get Older

Illustration (Oleksandr P/Pexels)

JAKARTA - In life, at least hundreds or even thousands of decisions are made every day. And with so many choices to make, you can end up feeling worn out over time.

"The more decisions a person makes in a day, the lower their ability to make quality decisions," says Raya Kheirbek, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“The human brain can only handle so much information and cognitive processes at any given time. When continually faced with a large number of decisions, the brain can become overwhelmed and exhausted,” continues Dr. Kheirbek, adapted from the Livestrong page, Tuesday, August 29.

However, while decision-making can become more difficult as you get older, the process is actually starting to get easier. As the popular saying goes, the older one is, the wiser one is. As we get older, more life experience and knowledge can improve decision-making abilities and behaviors.

According to a December 2017 review in ‌Gerontology‌, for example, older people tend to make more cautious decisions than impulsive ones.

“Older people tend to be less impulsive and wiser in making decisions. So, the decision was made with a lot of consideration," said Dr. Kheirbek.

1. Be wise by experience

As you get older, you accumulate more and more experiences, including those that count as success or failure. This can help you better understand the consequences of decisions and make more informed choices in the future, says Dr. Kheirbek.

“Experiencing a variety of situations and challenges can give adults a better understanding of what works and what doesn't in decision making.”

In addition, your rating also increases. Adults are better at judging people and situations and this can help make more accurate and effective decisions.

"They are better able to weigh the risks and benefits of various options and anticipate the consequences of those choices."

2. Better at Regulating Emotions

Over time, people tend to become more mature and more skilled at regulating emotions. As a bonus, it can also help action decisions to be more rational and less influenced by feelings.

"Increases in emotion regulation occur with age," says Dr. Kheirbek.

"People often learn to control their emotions and make decisions based on logic rather than letting feelings get in the way."

3. Good at Setting Priorities

Adults also often understand better what is important and what is not.

“This can help them to focus on the most important decisions and avoid wasting time and energy on the less important decisions,” says Dr. Kheirbek.

You also have a broader perspective on things that matter and about life that can help you make decisions that are aligned with your long-term goals and values.

"They are less likely to make impulsive decisions or be swayed by short-term gains," concludes Dr. Kheirbek.