Unless you’re deciding between, say, Team Edward or Team Jacob, you know that any choice you make has a potential downside. That’s why it’s so easy to get caught up in indecision when you’re facing bigger choices, like two job offers, or figuring out what new neighborhood to live in. And, not to make the decision-making process more stressful or anything, but research shows that the closer a decision looms, the more likely you are to make choices based on emotions, rather than objective facts.
In a study published by the Journal of Consumer Research, nearly one hundred college students were asked to imagine they were about to graduate, had landed a good job, and needed to pick a one-bedroom apartment. Half imagined it would happen in the next month, and half imagined it would happen the next year. The students imagining that this would happen sooner chose the apartment that appealed more to their feelings (prettier, smaller) than the larger, more convenient one that was objectively “better.”
“It’s not a bad thing to let your emotions play a factor in your decision making strategy,” says Art Markman, PhD, professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of Smart Thinking. “After all, if home is important to you and you’re going to spend a lot of time there, you very well might be happier in an apartment you love, even though it means a farther commute than if you’d chosen the one that’s just okay. But it’s also important to know why you’re making the decision you are.”
To guarantee that you don’t let your short-term emotions get the better of you, follow his five top decision-making strategies.
Limit your options
“Studies show that people are happier when they have fewer choices,” explains Markman. So while it may seem like you’re doing due diligence by, say, test-driving ten types of cars or spending an entire weekend looking at apartments in every single neighborhood, giving yourself three potential options is ideal. “Three will allow you to compare and contrast different features without getting overwhelmed,” says Markman.
But don’t go pro/con list crazy
“While pro and con lists can be helpful, they also make you ignore clues from your subconscious,” explains Markman. For example, maybe a job offer sounds good on paper, but the potential boss gave you a bad feeling. It’s easy to overlook your uneasiness when faced with an overwhelming “pro” column, but when you’re actually at the job, dealing with a monster of a supervisor will end up being a huge negative in real life. “If you feel very strongly one way or another, you should pay attention to that,” reminds Markman.
Test drive your choice
You do it for cars, but Markman says this is also a smart strategy when weighing other options. Considering applying to grad school? Spend a day at the university in your town, sitting in on a lecture, browsing the bookstore, or sipping coffee in a campus café. By imagining yourself living the option, you’ll get more cues into whether or not it’s a smart choice for you.
Look to the past
“The past can be a good indicator of how future events will work,” reminds Markman. Trying to decide whether it’s worth it to pack up and move cross country for a job offer? Think back to another time—when you started college, when you joined a running group—when you were the new person in a community. If that worked out well, chances are this will too.
Always have a routine
Heading to the gym every AM, always having the same salad for lunch, hitting happy hour with the crew on Monday nights … the more same-old your day to day is, the easier it will be to figure out big choices with a clear head. “Having to always make choices leads to what’s called decision fatigue,” explains Markman. “When you’re making fewer decisions a day, you have more mental reserve to tackle the ones that matter.”
More from WH:
When to Go With Your Gut
Life Choices: Your Decision-Making Process
How to Listen to Your Instincts
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