1. Clarify the Decision
☐ Ask: What exactly am I deciding?
☐ Evidence: Clear goals reduce cognitive load and decision fatigue. (Kahneman, Thinking Fast and Slow)
2. Limit Options
☐ Rule: 3–5 meaningful options is optimal.
☐ Evidence: Too many choices increase stress and decrease satisfaction (Choice Overload Effect, Iyengar & Lepper, 2000).
3. Use “Pros, Cons, & Weight”
☐ List the pros and cons of each option. Assign a simple weight (1–3) to each factor based on importance.
☐ Evidence: Weighted scoring improves accuracy over gut instinct alone (Saaty, Analytic Hierarchy Process).
4. Decide Within a Time Limit
☐ Set a time limit (even 5–10 minutes for small decisions).
☐ Evidence: Overthinking triggers analysis paralysis; deadlines improve decisiveness (Decision Theory research).
5. Test & Adjust (Small Experiments)
☐ For big decisions, try a small pilot or partial implementation before committing fully.
☐ Evidence: Iterative feedback and learning reduces risk (Behavioral Economics, Thaler & Sunstein).
☐ Quick Practical Formula:
Decision Score = Σ (Factor Weight × Option Rating) → Pick the option with the highest score.
Tip:
- For ambiguous or high-stakes situations, combine intuition + structured scoring.
- Research shows that “expert intuition” works best when paired with systematic checks.