Are you making good decisions about your finances? Are you making any decisions at all right now?

It has been a time of uncertainty and many people have seen what seemed to be good decisions — for example, investing in the stock market and real estate to build up a retirement fund — turn out poorly. Afraid of making even worse mistakes, they freeze.

But freezing up and doing nothing is a decision by default. And for most personal financial situations, it’s not a very good one. So how do we break the logjam and get back to good decision making about our finances? Follow this eight-step plan:

1. Put yourself in a calm state. Decisions made from fear or worry are rarely sound. Do whatever works for you (deep breathing, taking a run, meditation) to put yourself in a good frame of mind where you feel mentally clear and emotionally neutral.

2. Gather all your information. Many people avoid taking a full look at all of their assets and liabilities. But without it, you don’t have the foundation to make good decisions. Lay that information out in a way that is clear and concise.

3. Clearly state your goals. If you don’t know where you want to go, how can you possibly determine the best vehicle for getting there? Make sure these goals are yours, not your neighbors’ or the goals you think you’re supposed to have.

4. Research your options. Obviously, many “traditional” investment strategies have proven disastrous for many people. You should definitely take the time to see what other options are out there that enable you to grow wealth safely and predictably.

5. Weigh the potential outcomes. Often when a financial vehicle is presented to you, you are only given the “best case scenario.” In your analysis, be sure to evaluate the most likely and worst case scenarios as well.

6. Sleep on it. The old “sleep on it” advice has merit. In doing so, you give time for your gut instinct to kick in. You also give your mind time to come up with different questions to ask and possibilities to consider.

7. Make a decision and act on it! As motivational speaker Tony Robbins says, “Remember, a real decision is measured by the fact you’ve taken action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.” Implement your decision fully and wholeheartedly.

8. Evaluate your results. When you make your decision, also set up a reasonable timeframe to evaluate how that strategy is working for you. Set up realistic expectations for that timeframe and, if your decision is not panning out as you’d expected, be prepared to change course. (And if you are so inclined, you can compare how your chosen strategy is doing compared to other possibilities.)

For loans and financial advice, call Fewchore Finance on (+234) 811 887 8084 or visit www.fewchorefinance.com