Keep reading for FREE
Much of this decision-making is difficult. Weighing options is especially hard due to certain biases that can lead you astray.
These biases can include over-or underestimating the likelihood of something happening to you based on whether your friends have experienced something similar or how much you see it covered in the media. Another reason why decision-making is hard is the propensity to overweigh the instant gratification or the instant pain of a decision over the long-term consequences.
60
587 reads
Without clear objectives for what you want to achieve with a decision, you might focus on the wrong things.
Ask yourself, “What do I hope to achieve by addressing this choice?” and focus on aspects that aren’t easily quantifiable. This can be applied to both big and smaller decisions.
63
482 reads
While it’s worth taking time to settle larger decisions, don’t expend too much time and energy on the small stuff.
And don’t stress about the quality of your decision-making on these small choices either. Although the term decision fatigue — i.e., the more decisions you make during the day, the more likely you are to make bad ones — is buzzworthy, research doesn’t support its supposed effects. Having to make 10 choices a day versus two choices doesn’t mean your 10th choice will be worse. There’s no evidence of that.
60
350 reads
In some instances, making a decision before you’re actually in a specific scenario can help you avoid being swayed by outside forces, or ending up overwhelmed by the number of choices available. Going to the grocery store armed with a list can help you get everything you need.
There are all sorts of situations when, in the heat of the moment, you might make a decision you later regret. Pre-committing to a plan can prevent you from giving into those urges that could be bad.
56
282 reads
Don’t make a major decision in a vacuum. Get a handful of opinions — ideally from people with prior experience in the topic at hand.
The more expertise they have, the less likely they are to base their evaluations on a bias.
55
279 reads
Emotions get a bad rap for negatively influencing decision-making. However, it’s impossible to divorce emotions from logic. The key is to understand how emotions are impacting your choices.
Understanding that, for example, anger makes us take more risks can help crystallize why you may want to aggressively tailgate the car that just cut you off on the highway.
Realizing your emotions are pulling you in a certain direction can make you better equipped to accept these feelings for what they are.
57
239 reads
What you really want is not that simple. It’s based on very complex and very subtle beliefs, memories.
These lists can still be useful tools. When you force yourself to spell out the good and the bad in each choice, you have to slow down and think about your priorities and values. Your actions should be authentic representations of your needs — and the pros and cons list can be a helpful way of zeroing in on what you really want.
57
232 reads
Don’t think of decisions just as protective measures meant to prevent you from making your life worse. You can make choices that make a good situation even better.
“What decision can I make to make my life more interesting in the future?” If you think of some alternatives and you pursue one, your life didn’t get worse because you decided to think of that.
60
244 reads
CURATED BY
How to be a better decision maker: What to do if you regularly wish you could hire someone to make all your choices for you.
“
MORE LIKE THIS
personalexcellence.co
Ready for the next level?
Read Like a Pro
Explore the World’s
Best Ideas
Save ideas for later reading, for personalized stashes, or for remembering it later.
Start
31 IDEAS
Start
44 IDEAS
# Personal Growth
Take Your Ideas
Anywhere
Just press play and we take care of the words.
No Internet access? No problem. Within the mobile app, all your ideas are available, even when offline.
Ideas for your next work project? Quotes that inspire you? Put them in the right place so you never lose them.
Start
47 IDEAS
Start
75 IDEAS
My Stashes
Join
2 Million Stashers
4.8
5,740 Reviews
App Store
4.7
72,690 Reviews
Google Play
samz905
Don’t look further if you love learning new things. A refreshing concept that provides quick ideas for busy thought leaders.
“
Shankul Varada
Best app ever! You heard it right. This app has helped me get back on my quest to get things done while equipping myself with knowledge everyday.
“
Ashley Anthony
This app is LOADED with RELEVANT, HELPFUL, AND EDUCATIONAL material. It is creatively intellectual, yet minimal enough to not overstimulate and create a learning block. I am exceptionally impressed with this app!
“
Sean Green
Great interesting short snippets of informative articles. Highly recommended to anyone who loves information and lacks patience.
“
Giovanna Scalzone
Brilliant. It feels fresh and encouraging. So many interesting pieces of information that are just enough to absorb and apply. So happy I found this.
“
Jamyson Haug
Great for quick bits of information and interesting ideas around whatever topics you are interested in. Visually, it looks great as well.
“
Ghazala Begum
Even five minutes a day will improve your thinking. I've come across new ideas and learnt to improve existing ways to become more motivated, confident and happier.
“
Laetitia Berton
I have only been using it for a few days now, but I have found answers to questions I had never consciously formulated, or to problems I face everyday at work or at home. I wish I had found this earlier, highly recommended!
“
Read & Learn
20x Faster
without
deepstash
with
deepstash
with
deepstash
Access to 200,000+ ideas
—
Access to the mobile app
—
Unlimited idea saving & library
—
—
Unlimited history
—
—
Unlimited listening to ideas
—
—
Downloading & offline access
—
—
Personalized recommendations
—
—
FAQ
Claim Your Limited Offer
Get Deepstash Pro
Supercharge your mind with one idea per day
Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.
I agree to receive email updates