The Coin-Flip Method

Recently, I have been working through a tough decision about what to do next with my life.

I basically have two options.

Traveling would have been a third option, but that is off the cards right now because of you know what.

I recently got my results back for my master’s thesis, and to my relief, I got an A. This mark basically means I can get paid $28,000 (NZD) a year to do my Ph.D. (fee-free).

I have sought the advice of many people I trust to help evaluate my options. Although I am incredibly grateful for this advice, it has not helped me make a final decision as no one can really make that decision except for me.

So last week, I got decision-desperate and decided to let the toss of a coin determine my future. I discovered something pretty cool in the process. I found out that coins are super helpful decision-making tools. I like to call this newfound method, the coin-flip method — original right!

The coin flip method

If you have an important life decision to make, try out this method and see how it works for you. Please note it is necessary to follow these steps in order for the method to work correctly.

Step 1: Assign each of your decisions to each side of the coin, i.e., Ph.D. heads and getting a job, tails. If you have 3 options to consider, I suggest you use dice- you can assign two numbers to each option. If you have more than three options, I suggest you narrow these down to your top two or three before trying the coin-flip method.

Step 2: Flip the coin/roll the dice and think about the decision the coin/dice has made for you. How do you feel about this? Really try to analyse your feelings here- write them down or speak them out loud if you need to.

Step 3: Make your actual decision. Okay, this is the part where I tell you you don’t have to do what the coin says. You just have to think about how

the decision the coin made for you makes you feel.

Now, if you are like me, you will know deep down what you want as you just tricked yourself into making a decision. If you feel really shitty about the decision the coin made for you, then obviously, this is not the right path to follow. If you feel happy and excited about the decision the coin has made for you, then that is the right path.

After attempting to use a coin to make an important life decision for me, I had a lot more clarity about my decision and knew deep down what I wanted to do. Hopefully, you will feel the same after trying this method.

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Originally published at http://thedropoutacademic.com on June 23, 2020.