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Overcoming Analysis Paralysis

11 November 2025

Janie read 9 Subtle Signs of ‘Analysis Paralysis,’ According to a Harvard University Fellow by Kelsey Pelzer and was delighted to find several actionable takeaways to help keep her from getting stuck in analysis paralysis.

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Have you ever found yourself stuck staring at your computer screen, unable to find the “right” option—even though you could just pick something and move on to your next task? That’s the heart of analysis paralysis: too much thought, too many options, and not enough action.  

Kelsey Pelzer interviewed Dr. Bidhan (Bobby) Parmar about this problem in 9 Subtle Signs of ‘Analysis Paralysis,’ According to a Harvard University Fellow. Dr. Parmar is a UVA Darden School of Business professor and co-director of the Experiential Leadership Development Lab at Darden. He is also a Harvard University fellow and the author of Radical Doubt: Turning Uncertainty into Surefire Success.

I was fortunate enough to work with Bobby during my time at Darden and as someone who is prone to overthinking, I was thrilled to come across this article in Parade, which is digital now, but used to be my favorite section of thick Sunday newspapers. 

Bobby shared, “In today’s world of overwhelming information and countless choices, analysis paralysis is increasingly common…We find ourselves stuck in a feedback loop where anxiety fuels indecision, and indecision further intensifies anxiety. Waiting for total clarity becomes a sneaky form of avoidance.”

At its core, analysis paralysis is when your desire for the “best” choice is so strong that you stray into the “too many choices” trap and don’t decide at all. If you’re managing a team, planning a program, or simply working on something with multiple vendors and deadlines—analysis paralysis can be your biggest enemy. It delays communication, slows decision-making, and can push back the timeline. Waiting to “find the perfect” solution or get the wording just right might mean you never start or that you start too late.

So how can you break this cycle? Bobby shared six different tactics to help you break the cycle and move forward. My favorites are below.

• Make the uncertainty bite-sized: Bobby explained, “When a decision feels too big, it helps to shrink it into something more manageable.” Smaller steps feel less overwhelming and getting started helps reduce the risk of being frozen or overwhelmed by the big picture. For example, I often feel overwhelmed when I need to write something. I’ve found that the most important thing I can do when I’m feeling this way is to just start writing. I tend to spend too much time thinking about what I want to say and how I want to say it, and then I run out of time or end up rushed and not at my best. I’ve found that what really helps me make progress is to just start. My initial words aren’t going to be the same as my final words and that’s fine. What is important for me is getting something written down so I have a place to start. Once I have the initial words, it’s much easier for me to iterate and improve.
• Be open to positive surprises: We often fixate on fears of what might go wrong. Bobby recommended that instead we “consider what might go right…Shifting your focus to include possible upsides helps loosen the grip of paralysis.” I loved this advice. I definitely have a tendency to worry about all the things that might go wrong, but instead of focusing on that, I’ve found I can stretch my thinking more if I try to picture the ideal scenario, and what steps I could take to try to ensure things go the way I want them to.

Analysis paralysis isn’t just about being indecisive—it’s about being stuck or overwhelmed by choice. The goal isn’t to rush without thinking—it’s to think enough to take action. If you’re feeling the drag of overthinking, remind yourself that making progress (and adjusting as you go) is far more useful than being so focused on perfection that you never progress at all. 

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