Why do we go around in circles before finally deciding to leave?

We’ve all experienced that magical moment when, ready to pack our bags, we find ourselves pacing around our living room, our office, or even standing in front of the door, like a caged animal hesitating to pounce. This phenomenon, far from being a simple procrastination anecdote, is rooted in very real psychological and neurological mechanisms. Whether you’re in procrastination mode, deeply indecisive, or simply experiencing an inner conflict, understanding why we go around in circles before deciding to leave can save you from this circular prison and improve your decision-making (okay, it sounds serious, but I promise, it’s even funnier than it sounds).

This infernal dance between doubt, stress, and that darned thought that seems to go round and round is actually a subtle blend of mental analysis and emotional management. Before you actually leave, your brain goes into “ultimate check” mode, weighing the pros and cons, trying to tame the fear hidden behind the decision. The result? A hypnotic ballet where your steps go round and round, like an old record player that doesn’t know what to play.

Why does indecision make us go around in circles before leaving?

In the grand theater ofindecision,

your brain plays the leading role, juggling emotions and logic, while procrastination applauds from the wings. From a scientific point of view, going around in circles before leaving results from a combination of stress, doubt, and fear in the face of making a decision. It’s a kind of survival mechanism that allows your mind to check if all the options have been thoroughly examined. If you’re hesitating between “I’m leaving right now” or “I’ll double-check that I’ve got my keys,” congratulations, your brain is in maximum quality control mode!Researchers at the CNRS in Bordeaux even conducted an experiment where subjects deprived of all visual and auditory cues started walking in circles after just a few steps. Without reference points, it was impossible for them to walk straight! So, you realize that walking in circles is also a concrete manifestation of our need to locate, analyze, and reassure our brains in the face of stress. We project ourselves into the future, we reflect, we doubt, we assess the risks… in short, we put our prefrontal cortex to work like a cook faced with a last-minute recipe.

The role of internal conflict and fear in our circular walking

Internal conflict agitates our cortex like a DJ who doesn’t know which track to play: to leave or to stay? To stay or to leave? This psychological struggle generates palpable stress, which often translates into decision paralysis where we walk in circles, unable to choose between the security of the known and the leap into the unknown. The irrational fear of forgetting something, the infamous “dead battery” syndrome, or even the sheer stress of being late, all sabotage your desire to leave. It’s as if your brain, a victim of another form of indecision, is playing Russian roulette with your time, constantly postponing your decision with increasing intensity. The 5 scientific reasons that make you go around in circles before leaving 🚶‍♂️💭 ⚖️ Overanalysis: Your brain wants to weigh all the options, even the least important ones, which creates paralysis in decision-making.

The need for landmarks: Deprived of reference points, we start to wander, literally, to regain a sense of spatial orientation.🧠 The conflict between emotion and reason:

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Fear and stress cloud logic and encourage hesitation.

• ⏳ Procrastination in disguise Going around in circles also serves to buy time by avoiding facing the final decision.
• 🔄 Cognitive Loops : Mental rumination—those thoughts that keep looping—fuels the feeling of an endless cycle.
• Going around in circles vs. going round and round: what’s the difference? A little linguistic aside from the dawn of time: the expression “going around in circles” really means what you feel when you’re taking circular steps without making progress. Don’t confuse it with “running smoothly,” which evokes a well-oiled machine, something that runs perfectly. So, the next time you’re going around in circles before leaving, remember that it’s just your brain taking a coffee break from your fear and your overthinking.
• A chart to see what happens when you go around in circles Aspect 🧩 Effect on decision-making 🕹️
• Consequence on your behavior 🔄 Stress Amplifies hesitation

You remain paralyzed, repeating the same actions

Doubt

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Pulls you to constantly reconsider your choices

Repetition of the same checks	Anxiety	Reduces confidence in your judgments
You procrastinate under the guise of “preparation”	Analysis	Increases cognitive load
You ruminate without moving forward	Fear	Blocks action
Going around in circles instead of moving forward	So, what to do? First, accepting this little ritual of	swirling thoughts
is the first step to taming this beast. Then, you can calm the stress with a few breathing exercises or a good dose of self-deprecation. The key is to free your mind from the chains of hesitation to finally take action. Surprising tips to stop going in circles before hitting the road 🛣️✨	Because going in circles is a bit like trying to ride a bike without moving forward, here are a few tips to break the cycle:	🎯 Set yourself a clear goal with a deadline (even if it’s just “leave before 6 p.m. sharp”).
🗒️ Make a concise checklist to reduce the anxiety of forgetting.		🧘 Practice a few minutes of meditation to calm your overheated prefrontal cortex.

🚪 Open the door, take a deep breath, and take the first step… even if it’s tentative.

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😜 Remember that no one is waiting for you with a trophy for perfect preparation.

Don’t get trapped in this vicious cycle—sometimes, leaving also means letting go of trivial details. To delve even deeper into this human mystery, discover why

• we change chairs several times before sitting down
• , another classic example of animal hesitation that the brain loves.

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