Making better decisions by considering fewer choices.
Choices are great, and I am all for individuality and having ample options for things in life, far be it for me to judge anyone.
That said, if you are in front of me at a Starbucks and I hear you say, “Can I get a quad shot grande, half calf, salted caramel, mocha latte, with 2 pumps of vanilla substitute, extra foam, and caramel drizzle, double cupped, no sleeve, and oh, hold on I have a gift card somewhere,” just know I am judging you; and if you add the phrase “Can I get that on a leash,” (meaning to go), then I have mentally double downed and just don’t like you.
And in case you are wondering, I’m a “Can I get a venti latte with an extra shot” person.
Look, having options in life is great; I get that, but it seems like everything that offers options strives towards the excessive, and I have grown to find too many choices exhausting.
I didn’t always feel that way; I started noticing it when traveling full-time around SE Asia because when I think back on my time in the States, I was all about having options.
My living room had a big television with hundreds of programming channels, on-demand stations, and streaming services to choose from that provided thousands of viewing options; every category I was interested in had content available, from movies and TV shows to sporting and news events.
There were so many options that when I wanted to make dinner and watch a movie at night, I would actually slice out a half hour during the day to scroll the channels and selections before deciding on something that fits my mood; the funny thing is it wasn’t that uncommon for me to get frustrated because “there was nothing on that I wanted to watch.”
Now as I travel around SE Asia, few local TV stations speak English, so my viewing choices are limited to Netflix and the once-in-a-blue-moon splurge on renting a new release on Apple TV. And I’ll tell you, it works out great.
There are enough choices to keep things interesting, but deciding on something to watch doesn’t take long at all. If I am in the mood for an action flick, I go to that category, and after a few minutes, I get a sense of what is available and choose what to watch.
Easy peasy.
I prefer just having Netflix to when I had everything under the sun. I spend less time scrolling and don’t worry about missing out on something better or making the best decision.
There was also a time when I had too many clothing options in my closet, and I am not a clothing hoarder or into fashion or collecting nice clothing (and those who know me and just read that sentence are probably laughing at how genuinely understated that was).
Yet, even I had dozens of shorts, pants, and tops filling my closet and dresser drawers; every morning, I spent a few minutes putting together my attire for the day. And what I had is nothing compared to what most people have in their closets, so I can only imagine the effort in maintaining and selecting from their wardrobe.
All those clothing options vastly differ from my current “wardrobe” as a minimalist traveler living out of one carry-on backpack.
Just for laughs, here is a list of the 26 items of clothing I currently own:
Shirts — 4
Shorts — 3
Joggers — 1
Long sleeve — 1
Underwear — 4
Socks (pairs) — 4
Running shorts — 2
Running shirts — 3
Running briefs — 2
Running shoes — 1
Flip-flops — 1
Everything about my wardrobe now makes my life easier; they match and are easy to wash, replace, pack, and travel with. Now I get I’m a bit on the extreme side of the conversation, but I think the argument is still valid; we can’t escape making decisions entirely, but we can choose to have fewer options we need to consider. And with that, my Spidey-senses are telling me you may disagree, so let’s flush that out, starting with decision fatigue.
Decision fatigue is a thing
You may have heard of a term called decision fatigue, which is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when the quality of decision-making deteriorates after a long duration of making choices; the more decisions we make throughout the day, the more our cognitive resources become depleted, leading to poorer and less well-thought-out decisions as the day progresses. Think of it like lifting weights; as we perform more reps, our muscles fatigue, which happens to our brains with too many decisions; mental exhaustion can impact our ability to make rational and sound judgments or, at the very least, make poorer decisions than we otherwise would have.
We live in a modern world, so we’re bombarded with an overwhelming array of choices daily. From selecting what to wear, what to eat, which route to take to work, and even what tasks to prioritize, we may not always notice, but each decision chips away at our mental energy reserves. Sometimes, we may start avoiding decisions altogether or make impulsive choices to relieve the mental strain (and stress).
For many of us, we start our day with a myriad of decisions right from the moment we wake up. Should you hit the snooze button or get up immediately? What outfit should you wear today? What’s for breakfast? These might seem like trivial matters, but they contribute to your decision-making load. As the day goes on, the accumulation of these choices slowly depletes your cognitive resources. By the time you’re faced with more significant decisions, such as a work-related project or a major purchase, you might find yourself feeling mentally drained, leading to a decreased ability to thoroughly evaluate options, consider consequences, and weigh pros and cons. This drain of mental energy is often why we need to (and should) take breaks.
Mitigating decision fatigue requires a mindful approach to our daily functions and schedule. Strategies like establishing routines and minimizing choices for less essential matters can effectively conserve our cognitive resources for, at least, what we feel to be, more critical decisions. Steve Jobs, for instance, famously wore the same outfit every day to reduce the number of decisions he had to make about clothing. By automating many of these simple choices, we’re able to allocate more of our cognitive energy (and reserves) to more complex tasks.
Learning to prioritize our tasks also helps reduce decision fatigue, as does tackling important choices earlier in the day, when your mental energy is at its peak, to ensure that we’re making well-considered judgments; this can also involve perhaps breaking down complex decisions into smaller steps, which can make them more manageable and less mentally taxing.
We can’t escape making decisions entirely, but we can choose to have fewer options we need to consider.
Everyone is unique in how much decision fatigue impacts their lives, but with a world seemingly dedicated to inundating us with choices, we are all susceptible to its possible influence on our decision-making abilities. Consciously balancing our needs to make choices with strategies to manage mental fatigue can go a long way in helping us navigate our daily lives more skillfully and make decisions that better align with our goals and values. So, whether it’s limiting options, setting priorities, or simply taking regular breaks to recharge, recognizing the impact of decision fatigue can empower us to approach decision-making with greater awareness and mindfulness.
Analysis paralysis always gets me
Although I can navigate around decision fatigue fairly well, analysis paralysis often gets me when I lower my guard. Analysis paralysis is a cognitive phenomenon that occurs when we are confronted with so many options and so much information it leads to a state of overthinking and being unable to make a decision (paralysis). It’s like being caught in a mental quagmire (giggity) where the more information you gather, the more uncertain and overwhelmed you become, and this state of indecision can immobilize your ability to move forward, hindering progress and potentially causing bad choices or missed opportunities.
When I’m faced with a complex decision, I often feel compelled to examine every conceivable angle, considering pros and cons in excruciating detail, and sometimes that is a good thing, but like most everything, there is a point of diminishing returns; in this case, inaction. Being meticulous in analyzing something might seem like a prudent approach, often because we feel like we are taking things seriously, but it usually leads to a point where the sheer volume of information becomes paralyzing. What’s so frustrating during these instances is that the quest for the perfect choice becomes the obstacle to making any choice.
For example, imagine you’re looking to buy a new computer. You start researching various brands, specifications, reviews, and prices. As you delve deeper, the sheer range of options and contradictory opinions online about the “best” choice can overwhelm your decision-making process. You might find yourself lost in a sea of technical jargon, comparison charts, and online review forums, struggling to decide which features matter most and which model aligns with your needs. This over-analysis can lead to frustration, stress, and, ironically, delayed progress.
That’s why I just get another Mac when I need a new laptop. I’m not saying it’s the best or whatever, but for me, it works great, so I don’t need (or want) to look at anything else. I keep the process easy peasy.
Analysis paralysis can also arise from a fear of making a wrong decision, or sometimes it’s not wanting to miss out on something. The desire to make the optimal choice can inadvertently transform into a fear of making any choice that could potentially be less than perfect (and as a perfectionist, this is often problematic for me). This anxiety results from a fear of failure or the desire to avoid adverse outcomes; even though you’re equipped with plenty of information, you end up stuck in a cycle of overthinking, unable to move forward decisively. This feeling can be highly frustrating.
Overcoming analysis paralysis can be tricky, too, because it involves being mindful and recognizing when you’re falling into this pattern and taking deliberate steps to break free from it. Tricky but possible.
One strategy is to set a clear deadline for making a decision because it forces you to focus your energy on reaching a conclusion within a specified timeframe, preventing you from endlessly dwelling on the options. With me, this often works, but there have been times when the deadline added too much pressure, where I either decided to make no decision or made a rash one just to remove the pain.
Additionally, learning to prioritize criteria and filter out less relevant information (options) can help streamline the decision-making process, and this often helps me because I’m being proactive to triage what matters in the decision process, consider what aspects of the decision truly matter, and concentrate on those, rather than getting bogged down in minutiae.
The point is analysis paralysis is real for many people, but it is also a mindset that can be changed and improved. And while thoughtful consideration may be crucial for making the most informed decisions, the reality is it is not always needed, and in fact, an excess of analysis can lead to stagnation. When we feel overwhelmed and can’t focus on a decision, be mindful of that and slow down; give yourself time to mentally catch up with processing all the information. When you can, be proactive by setting boundaries on (in the case of buying a computer) the amount of research you need to accumulate, and focus on the elements that can help you break free from the cycle of overthinking and move toward making decisions with confidence.
Again, we can’t escape making decisions entirely, but we can choose to have fewer options we need to consider.
By acknowledging that perfection is elusive and that taking action is often more valuable than endlessly deliberating, you can help yourself navigate the complexity of choices more effectively and make decisions that align with your goals and values. Believe me when I say it won’t always work, and it’s not a perfect science, but being mindful of when you get flustered and calmly working through the decision will help. Although, just because you made a decision doesn’t mean you’ll like the outcome.
With numerous options (and outcomes) available, there’s perhaps a greater chance that individuals might second-guess their decisions and regret not choosing differently in the first place. This regret can lead to reduced satisfaction with the initial decision, and people might feel pressured to repeat the process all over again by exhaustively searching for the “perfect” option, even when minor differences they are rationalizing between choices may not (and probably will not) significantly impact their experience.
Also, and I think counterintuitively, having too many options can reduce a person’s overall satisfaction with a decision because individuals may be left wondering if there was a better choice among the alternatives, which supports the notion that the more options we have may lead to a falsely inflated expectation for the outcome.
I choose to live with fewer options
I have consciously made it a point to reduce the number of decisions I need to make in my life, and I feel lighter without the added burdens. Most people never stop to think about the toll daily decisions take on our mental health and, by extension, our overall wellness. But they do, and for some, like me, the effects can be problematic; for others, the impact on their lives may be unnoticeable, but it is there. Sometimes the effects are only experienced after years of build-up.
Several years ago, I had a real problem dealing with stress, anxiety (and the resulting panic attacks), and scaling down my life was required to address that. Now, to be fair, many things in my lifestyle had to change, including adding a nutrition and exercise routine. Still, it also included significantly eliminating elements I no longer needed from my life and therefore did not need to worry about (resulting in fewer options, choices, and decisions).
I started incorporating morning routines, so I didn’t have to think that much when I first woke up. I eat the same thing every day and follow the same steps: drink coffee, eat breakfast, stretch, shave, shower, and get dressed. It saves me time and requires (near) zero decision-making, so I feel refreshed later in the morning.
When I needed a new phone, I didn’t research; I just bought the newer model of the one I already had. I went through my home and decluttered; I reduced the apps I used and, as mentioned, even simplified my wardrobe.
A closing thought
So, look, I am all for options and choices, they are niceties and can undoubtedly help bring more pleasure to our lives, but for many of us, in excess, they can also bring a level of pain. So if you notice, like I do, that sometimes we experience information overload from all the options and choices when trying to decide on something, stay patient, and try to weed out any unnecessary steps in our decision-making process.
If all else fails, remember that probably 95% of our decisions are less important than we think. If it’s not about my health, family, or friends, then, for me, the decision doesn’t matter on the grand scale. So enjoy all your options if you want, but maybe try fewer choices and see how that feels; you may surprise yourself.
Remember, we can’t escape making decisions entirely, but we can choose to have fewer options we need to consider.
