How to Make Better Decisions by Reducing Your Options

In a world full of endless options, making decisions can feel like a daunting task. From choosing what to eat, which phone to buy, or even where to go on vacation, the pressure to make the “perfect” choice is ever-present. But did you know that having fewer options could actually improve the quality of your decisions? While more choices might seem like a sign of freedom, they can often lead to decision fatigue, regret, and anxiety. In this article, we’ll explore how reducing your options can not only make decision-making easier but can also lead to more satisfying outcomes.

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Isn’t Always Better

You may have heard of the “paradox of choice,” a concept introduced by psychologist Barry Schwartz in his 2004 book The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. Schwartz argues that, contrary to popular belief, an increase in the number of options available to us often leads to negative outcomes, such as paralysis by analysis, stress, and lower satisfaction. In other words, the more choices you have, the harder it becomes to make a decision, and the less satisfied you may feel with the choice you ultimately make.

One well-known study by Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper, published in Psychological Science in 2000, demonstrated this paradox in action. The researchers set up a display of 24 varieties of jam in one scenario and only 6 varieties in another. Although more people stopped to sample the jam when there were 24 options, they were far more likely to make a purchase when only 6 options were available (Iyengar & Lepper, 2000). The study revealed that fewer choices made the decision-making process easier and more enjoyable for participants, which led to higher satisfaction with their final purchase.

How Reducing Your Options Leads to Better Decision-Making

1. Clarity and Focus

When you’re faced with fewer options, it’s much easier to focus on the choices that truly matter. Rather than getting lost in the sea of possibilities, you can concentrate on the essential factors that align with your needs and desires. This leads to quicker decisions, saving you valuable time and energy.

For instance, choosing a new phone can be an overwhelming task. With hundreds of models, specs, and brands, it’s easy to get lost in the details. However, by narrowing down your choices to the top 5 most-reviewed or most-recommended phones, you immediately eliminate distractions and focus on the models that best fit your needs. This streamlined approach not only makes the decision easier but can also help you avoid regret later on.

2. Increased Confidence

Having fewer options allows you to make decisions more quickly and confidently. When you’re not second-guessing every choice, you can trust that you’ve made the best decision for yourself. Confidence in your decisions reduces anxiety, as you no longer need to constantly wonder if another option might have been better.

In the workplace, for example, when employees have a limited number of software tools to choose from, they report feeling more confident in their ability to use those tools effectively. According to a 2020 Harvard Business Review study, employees who had fewer software choices felt more confident and were more productive than those given a broader range of options (Harvard Business Review, 2020).

3. Less Regret

With fewer options to choose from, there’s less chance for regret. When you have only a few choices, you are more likely to accept that the decision you’ve made is final, and as a result, you are less likely to look back and wish you’d chosen differently. In contrast, when presented with too many options, we often experience “option overload,” which leads to second-guessing and the constant thought that maybe another choice would have been better.

Consider the experience of picking a restaurant. If you’re given a list of 50 restaurants, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed and perhaps dissatisfied with your final decision, even if the meal is enjoyable. But when you’re only presented with 3-5 highly rated restaurants, you’ll likely feel more at ease with your choice.

Practical Strategies to Reduce Your Choices and Make Better Decisions

Now that we understand the benefits of reducing our options, how can we implement this strategy in our everyday lives? Here are several methods you can use to simplify decision-making and increase satisfaction with your choices.

1. Define Your Priorities

One of the most effective ways to reduce your options is to first define your priorities. Ask yourself: What is most important to me in this decision? Whether you’re choosing a car, a vacation destination, or even a dinner menu, knowing your priorities will help you eliminate options that don’t meet your needs.

For example, if you’re buying a new car, your priorities may be safety and fuel efficiency, while a high-end sound system might not be as important. By clearly outlining your criteria, you can easily narrow down your options to the cars that fit your top priorities, leading to a quicker, more confident decision.

2. Use the “Satisficing” Approach

“Satisficing” is a term coined by Nobel laureate Herbert Simon, referring to the act of choosing an option that is good enough, rather than searching endlessly for the perfect option. By adopting a satisficing mindset, you stop aiming for perfection and focus on finding a solution that meets your needs without overthinking every little detail.

For example, when shopping for a pair of shoes, rather than trying to find the perfect pair, choose one that is comfortable and within your budget. This helps you avoid getting stuck in an endless loop of comparing different brands and prices.

3. Limit Your Decision Time

One way to stop yourself from getting bogged down in a sea of choices is to set a time limit for your decision-making. For major decisions, give yourself a deadline by which you must make a choice. This prevents you from overthinking and forces you to trust your instincts. In fact, many successful people use this approach to streamline their decision-making process.

Whether you’re deciding on a new project at work or choosing what to have for dinner, giving yourself a strict time limit can lead to faster, more decisive action. For smaller decisions, consider using the “5-minute rule,” where you only allow yourself five minutes to make a choice.

4. Get Expert Recommendations

Another way to reduce your options is to rely on expert recommendations or trusted opinions. Rather than researching every available choice, seek advice from people who have already done the heavy lifting. Whether it’s a review from a trusted website, advice from a friend, or recommendations from a professional, expert opinions can help you cut down on the number of choices you need to consider.

For example, if you’re buying a laptop, it can be helpful to read reviews from tech experts at TechCrunch or Mashable. These experts have already tested the products, saving you hours of research. Additionally, asking friends for recommendations on restaurants or travel destinations can help you avoid the overwhelming feeling of having to choose from hundreds of options.

The Psychological Benefits of Reducing Options

The psychological benefits of reducing your choices are just as important as the practical ones. Decision fatigue is a well-documented phenomenon, where making too many choices can deplete your mental energy and lead to poor outcomes. Studies show that when people are faced with too many choices, they experience stress, anxiety, and may even avoid making a decision altogether (Vohs et al., 2008).

By reducing your options, you are not only simplifying the decision-making process but also giving your brain the opportunity to focus on what truly matters. This can result in greater overall satisfaction and less anxiety, as your mind is no longer preoccupied with endless possibilities.

Conclusion

In a world that often equates more choices with more freedom, the truth is that fewer options can lead to better decisions. By reducing the number of choices you make, you can regain clarity, confidence, and reduce regret. Whether you’re making decisions at work, in your personal life, or even when shopping, using the strategies outlined in this article will help you make faster, more satisfying decisions.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by too many choices, take a step back, simplify the options, and trust yourself to make the best decision with what you have. After all, in a world of infinite choices, sometimes less truly is more.

References

• Schwartz, B. (2004). The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. New York: HarperCollins. Available at: https://www.harpercollins.com [Accessed: 18 July 2025].
• Iyengar, S. S., & Lepper, M. R. (2000). ‘When choice is demotivating: Can one desire too much of a good thing?’ Psychological Science, 11(6), 117-122. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com [Accessed: 18 July 2025].
• Harvard Business Review. (2020). How Fewer Choices Lead to Better Decision-Making in the Workplace. Harvard Business Publishing. Available at: https://hbr.org [Accessed: 18 July 2025].