People spend too much time on decisions with equally satisfying outcomes

My technique for simple close decisions is to pick an option at random - flip a coin, random.org, whatever, and then see what my gut reaction is.

If I’m happy, decision made. But if there’s a pang of regret or whatever… that means you actually prefer the alternate so should do that.

Admittedly I’m talking about stuff on the level of “What should I do for lunch” and not, say, career decisions

The irrationality presumes:

1. That the decision-making activity itself is wasteful. 2. That the decision-making time would, if not consumed by decision making, be spent elsewhere in a more productive manner.

These are hardly safe assumptions. The discussion itself can be enjoyable. The faster decision making can create less certainty in the decision and encourage regret, or create conflict with others. The time gained may not be spent in any productive manner but instead be wasted elsewhere.

My “anti shampoo aisle” strategy (that drives my wife mad) is to stop at the first item that satisfies my requirements.

“You didn’t even look at the back of the menu!!”

“Good point. I’ll start reading menus from random locations each time.”

Which is why I enjoy buying things at Costco. They usually have one widget of a particular type. And historically for me at least, they seem to be proficient at choosing good widgets. Thus, my only choice is whether I want it or not, not then another choice of which one do I want.