Indecision is a common trait in people. While some people make quick decisions, others find it challenging to think through all of their options and may even attempt to avoid making one entirely.

Psychology experts have discovered that perfectionism often leads to indecision. Perfectionists put off making decisions until they are certain they are doing so correctly, out of fear of feeling guilty if they make the wrong choice. Indecision is generally viewed as a negative trait, but the waiting sometimes has advantages. People with high trait ambivalence take longer to make judgments, but they are also less prone to “correspondence bias.” For example, we think that someone is clumsy if he or she slips rather than noticing that the floor is slippery. Like everything else in life, indecision is only a problem when it goes beyond what is sensible. A simple initial step to prevent spending too much time thinking about your options without actually learning anything new is to set a time limit for your final decision.

Indecision can protect us from bias while also being an enemy of good. The secret is knowing when to wait and when to push through your doubt when it’s holding you back.