FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FOBO

Paralyzed by indecision, confused by choice and unable to commit? You may have Fobo: the Fear of Better Options. Here are five signs you may be Fobo- afflicted.

1 YOUR CALENDAR RESEMBLES A POST- IT NOTE FACTORY

Your inability to neither say “No” to an event nor fully commit to one means a chaos of primary- coloured events splattered across December. Some days feature four or more options, all to be narrowed down “closer to the time,” many are written in psychotically capitalized letters, and most finish with at least one question mark — though some have several. “PANIC ROOM WITH WORK??” … “Babysitting for neighbours ( haven’t said yes)” … “Carol singing?” … “Felipe’s citizenship ceremony??????”

2 YOUR CHRISTMAS IS METICULOUSLY PLANNED

It wouldn’t be beyond you to pull out a map, a compass, some string and a calculator to figure out how you can go to drinks with friends on Christmas Eve, make midnight mass, see your parents first thing the next morning, cook lunch for your in- laws, go for a walk with your siblings, open gifts with your children, have tea with your gran, then still go skiing on Boxing Day. ( But like last year, you haven’t left any time for a minor breakdown when you have to choose the route there, so you probably won’t be going anywhere.)

3 WHAT’S ON NETFLIX?

It was going so well: you found that fabled blank date in your calendar, you just about managed to choose something to eat from the Deliveroo menu and now you just have to find something to watch. So you open Netflix and… your mind goes blank. Some have called this “analysis paralysis,” but that sounds too much like a lost Radiohead demo, so Fobo covers it.

4 YOU’RE ALWAYS DRESSED FOR ANYTHING

The inability to choose between a girls’ night out, the opera and a Soulcycle class do not make for an obvious wardrobe ensemble. While you’re adept at lugging around a bag that covers most options, the reality isn’t that you’re prepared for anything, it’s that you’re prepared for nothing.

5 YOU’VE TURNED DOWN YOUR DREAM JOB MULTIPLE TIMES

It was the right salary, the right role, with good scope for progression, a nice-seeming boss, a fine commute, and it’s a company you’ve always dreamed of working for … but there was something “off” about it, so you turned down that promotion in order to see what else comes up. You’ve done this for 22 years. You’re close to retirement now.