Before diving deep into the problem, we need to clarify the problem itself. In the current state of the world, most people consistently feel overworked and overwhelmed.

The main source of this problem is making an infinite number of choices throughout the day, starting with the basics, such as deciding what to wear and ending with some difficult business decisions.

Anyway, all of these choices are making our brains work as hard as hell and not leaving any time for mental rest. In other words, comparing several things is one of the hardest things for our brains to do.

It’s important to mention that you probably won’t feel any joy from the final decision.

In a nutshell, all these choices are making our brains always compare and never get any joy from the final decision. You’ve spent so much energy and time choosing between two sneakers in the store, so it already doesn’t matter to your brain what you’ll end up with; your mood is already broken, and you’re tired like shit.

In the book “The Paradox of Choice”, psychologist Barry Schwartz explains that having too many choices can actually lead to increased anxiety, decision paralysis, and decreased satisfaction with the final decision. This is because, as we mentioned earlier, our brains struggle to compare and evaluate multiple options.

So, now that we understand the problem itself, we can start looking at it from different angles and searching for a solution. And trust me, the solution is pretty simple to understand but really hard to implement in real life.

The Power of Not Making a Choice

The first solution is the ability to delay making a decision until you have more information or until the decision is necessary. It is the act of recognizing that sometimes not making a decision is the best decision.

For example, if you are having trouble deciding which job offer to accept, you could delay your decision until you have more information about both positions.

This could include gathering more information about the companies, the benefits packages, and the salaries. By delaying your decision, you are giving yourself the time and space to make a more informed decision in the future.

In other words, if there’s no reason to hurry up, then you should wait a little bit for more objective data to make a better decision.

By the way, if you’ve decided not to choose until you find more information about this, then you shouldn’t get back to thinking about it and putting yourself in the infinite loop of thinking about the same thing over and over.

In fact, a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who are better at limiting their choices are happier and experience less regret than those who are not.

By embracing the power of not making a choice, you can reduce decision fatigue, increase satisfaction, and improve your overall well-being. So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed by the number of choices you have to make, remember that sometimes, the best decision is to not make one at all.

The First Thought Principle

The second solution is the “First Thought Principle”. The idea behind this principle is that your initial reaction or thought is usually the best one.

For example, if you are deciding whether or not to attend a social event, your initial reaction is usually the most honest one. If your gut reaction is to decline the invitation, it is likely that you won’t have a good time even if you do attend.

That’s why you probably shouldn’t spend half of your day and all your energy thinking of the best possible choice, just choose what your emotions want first, and don’t try to make everything rationally correct.

By trusting your instincts and going with your initial reaction, you can save yourself time and energy that would otherwise be wasted on overthinking.

However, “The First Thought Principle” should only be applied to small and less important things in life, such as daily tasks and deciding what to do next.

On the other hand, in the business sphere, you should not be controlled by emotions and should choose the most rational way forward.

Upgrading the Environment

The third solution is upgrading your environment. This can include simplifying your life, decluttering your space, and automating mundane tasks. If it’s clean in your environment, then it’s clean in your mind, which makes everyday life much easier.

By upgrading your environment, you are reducing the number of decisions you have to make on a daily basis. This can free up mental space and energy for more important decisions.

For example, if you automate your morning routine, you won’t have to waste mental energy deciding what to wear or what to eat for breakfast. This can leave you more mental space and energy to tackle important business decisions later in the day.

By the way, I’ve always had a mess in my room. I used to think that it was just part of who I was and that I didn’t want to waste time cleaning and vacuuming everything. However, after spending just 10–15 minutes a day keeping my room clean, I started to feel more energized and motivated to stay productive. This increased my overall well-being and removed most of the chaos from my life!

New Day, New Experience

I’ve discovered this principle pretty recently and just can’t understand how I lived my whole life. The concept is pretty simple: look at every day as something that can give you a new experience.

In other words, nobody likes routines when each day looks the same as the previous one. To avoid this, I look at every day as an opportunity for a new experience.

Yesterday, I was walking in the park and listening to birds. Today, I’m skiing in the mountains. Tomorrow, I’ll spend the whole day reading my favorite book, and so on.

This approach helps to simplify decision-making. Instead of contemplating what to do today, I can choose something I haven’t done in a long time or haven’t tried before. This way, I reduce the number of choices and add variety to my life.

You can’t even imagine how this variety can help you feel more joy in life overall. Try it for yourself and see the results!