I don’t know about you, but I feel like the world is awash in choices and options these days. Open a browser window and up pops dozens of suggestions before you even type in what you’re searching for. Walk into a supermarket and you have to battle past all the impulse buys. Search for white paint at the home center and you can spend 20 minutes sorting through 200 shades.
Ours has become a world where we spend most of our time thinking, “No, that’s not it,” rather than, “That’s the best option.” As a result, we can feel drained just navigating through the day. When we spend all this energy saying no, there is less likelihood we’ll say yes to anything because we’ve become programmed to think that there will always be a better option around the corner, and we don’t want to miss out. This, of course, is the basis for buyer’s remorse. But now we seem to have buyer’s remorse on steroids!
Years ago, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky produced their landmark research on cognitive bias and risk. One of the insights they confirmed was that people have a fear of missing out when presented with too many options. (I am greatly oversimplifying here.) As a result, they may refuse to make any decision even though it would be in their best interests.
So why tell you all this? Because having too many options impairs our decision making. If we are subjected to this kind of scenario all the time in this crazy-busy world, we begin to feel overwhelmed in general and our brain begins to shut down. In other words – burnout.
So how do you deal with this when you’re immersed in it every day – at work – while shopping – and navigating life’s other choices? Here are four things to do. (Just four. I don’t want to give you too many options.)
Define and prioritize your criteria. Need a laptop? Make a list of all the features you need. Speed? Hard drive? Screen size? Battery life? Then prioritize and focus on just the top five needs. You’ll never get it all and you can spend hours chasing stuff that’s not that important. Unless you’re a gamer or graphic designer, for instance, you probably don’t need the biggest screen and fastest speed. So why waste time getting caught in the weeds?
Limit your quest for information. Search for anything online these days and you’ll be bowled over by the number of options. Some merchants seem to think they have to offer every choice on the planet. As a result, you should be careful where you look. Are you a cycling enthusiast? Great. Go to the bike shop and let the specialist fit you for the perfect equipment. Just want to have some fun on weekends? Go to Walmart. Buy a bike and move on with your life. Do not allow yourself to be sucked in by endless details. Life’s too short.
Ask for recommendations from those you trust. Sure, you can check, Amazon, Yelp, Open Table, or hundreds of other sources. But those ratings and comments can be manipulated and only represent a very small percentage of buyers. When you ask friends, family and colleagues, there’s more skin in the game. After all, they don’t want to damage the relationship by misguiding you. There’s trust involved.
Accept that the world will not end if you don’t make the optimal choice. Several years ago, I bought a new car. But once I started driving it, I discovered all the little things that were wrong with it. You know – not enough cup holders, a stain on one of the floor mats (It was a used car.), less room that I thought in the back seat, and on and on. At first, I felt buyer’s remorse. But then I thought, “On balance, this is a great car. It’s powerful. I like its look. The seats are super-comfortable, and it’s got a sunroof. I should get over myself and stop worrying about the little stuff.” And I did.
Bottom line? Get a clear vision. Do your research and then act. There no such thing as the perfect decision, but you can waste lots of energy trying to get there!