Decisive Decision Dilemma

Last night, I was lucky enough to get a new external display for my laptop computer. As I get older, my eyesight gets worse. I figured if I bought a larger display, I wouldn't have to lean over so much to see what I was doing on the smaller laptop screen. I'm trying to correct my already evolved tech-neck and give my aging eyes, and back, a break. Buying a new monitor would help me solve this problem by allowing me to work more comfortably.

The new larger computer display really does make it easier to lean back into a better posture and easily see what I'm working on, but it has me pondering the question: Was this necessary?

The quick answer: No, maybe not.

I already have my laptop and, at the end of the day, if I had to get super lean, the laptop already comes with its built-in display, and that's been enough up until this point.

I also know that I don't want unnecessary excess in my life. It feels like it leads to stress 100% of the time. I want my life to run as lean as possible. I want to have only what is necessary. At least, that's what I tell myself, and then I go and buy a new monitor anyway.

So then why did I buy a display?

I've wanted an external monitor for years now. I had one in particular in mind. It was on sale, and the sale price was the cheapest I've ever seen it, especially since the tariffs hit.

I've been thinking about it for too long. It was time to take action. If I was going to buy it, now was the time.

Sometimes, investing in a thing is a way through. Sometimes it's necessary to have the thing, whatever it may be, in order to achieve your goals. On the other hand, there is elegance in simplicity. The less cluttered your living space, the less cluttered your mind. Finding the balance can be hard.

I guess it comes down to trying to evaluate whether or not that thing, whatever it is for you, will actually improve your life. There is no limit to the amount of stuff we can buy or do. Of course, there are things that we want, but we can't have everything, at least not all at once. We all have to live within our budgets: time, money, attention.

It comes down to what you value the most. What will actually make a difference in your life?

Maybe you have to buy, or do, or be the thing to see if it can actually improve your life. The only way to know is to go for it and then pay attention to the results.

Learn. Apply. Repeat.

Sometimes it's better to go for it than to spend too much time thinking about jumping. There is a cost to indecision. Thinking about which way to go for too long will also steal your focus. It can rob you from taking the next necessary step in your own journey.

The point I am trying to make is that sometimes, when you are truly at a stalemate in your decision making process, the only way forward, is through. Especially when the stakes aren't life threatening.

I can't help feeling a little ashamed of myself though. I feel like I broke a promise to myself to be more minimalistic, to produce less waste, to have less clutter, to need less. When I saw the new display sitting on my desk I had to question whether or not I had made the right decision. If I'm being honest, I'm still not sure. But I do know that the indecision was no longer an option. I had to try it, or move on.

I'm getting older and my eyes are too. Leaning over all the time to try and read the 13" laptop screen had my back feeling all jacked up. I was really starting to consider whether or not I should be concerned over long term health risks potentially induced by my eye and back strain.

There was also an element of comfort to be considered. Working on photos, video, or music can use up screen area quickly. Small screens don't favor seeing too much when working on these types of projects. Having the much larger screen real estate has me like, 'Ahhh...'

So, was it necessary? I guess only time will tell, but at least I've taken action on something that I have been thinking about for a long time to see whether or not it will help. I doubt it will ever be considered necessary to have bought this new monitor. If you think about it, there are only a handful of things that are truly necessary in life, like breathing.

The real question is: Was it worth it?

In life, we always have to weigh our options. For me, in this decision, I was weighing whether or not spending money on a new item, something that will take space and attention, was worth the cost. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

One more thing.

Taking quick action works particularly well for decisions that don't have a lot of downside. I'm not so sure I would act first and correct later when it comes to major life decisions. I thought that I would mention this here, just in case your computer monitor equates to whether or not you should leave a job or break up a relationship. This is not a good model for those types of decisions, but that's another conversation.

So how about you?

What in your life have you been contemplating lately? Is it time to try something new?

Is there a low-cost decision that you haven't made for yourself? Is this non-life-threatening decision stealing your focus?

What decision can you make, right now, that will clear your mind of that clutter?

What decision do you need to make today to reclaim your focus and live your dreams?