Decisions about Decisions

Every decision you make, big or small, shapes your life – so why not make those decisions smarter, simpler, and more satisfying?

1. Simplify Choices with Second-Order Decisions

Making decisions is mentally taxing, but second-order decisions can ease this burden by creating systems that simplify recurring choices. Instead of deciding anew every day, you establish a system once and follow it henceforth. This frees up mental energy and eliminates unnecessary stress.

A weekly meal plan is an example of a second-order decision. Instead of pondering every day about what to eat, you decide once for the week and stick to your plan. These strategies reduce "decision fatigue" and make your life more efficient. However, second-order decisions should match the complexity of your situation, allowing you to tailor these systems based on the amount of certainty or information available.

The book introduces four strategies to streamline decision-making based on effort and complexity:

• High-low: Devote upfront time to simplify future decisions (e.g., scheduling meals for the week).
• Low-low: Take small steps for uncertain decisions (e.g., trying a hobby for a week).
• Low-high: Delegate to someone else and trust their expertise (e.g., letting a coworker lead a project).
• Avoid high-high: Over-deliberation causes unnecessary anxiety and stress (e.g., over-planning a casual outing).

Examples

• Setting up automatic savings transfers to simplify financial management.
• Preparing outfits for the week to ease morning routines.
• Assigning household responsibilities to family members to save time deliberating.

2. Break Major Decisions into Manageable Steps

When facing life-altering decisions, tackling everything at once can feel paralyzing. Opting is a step-by-step approach to break significant decisions into smaller, more digestible actions. This minimizes anxiety while allowing you to gather more information.

For example, a student hesitating over their college major could take introductory courses in various fields to test the waters. This method avoids immediate commitment and lets the student determine their passions and strengths before making a long-term decision. Opting also applies to career changes, relationships, or any domain where choices carry high stakes.

Research indicates that embracing small risks can lead to greater satisfaction. Incremental exploration lets you adapt and grow, rather than being stuck in a state of indecision. Opting is not about playing it safe; it’s about informed leaps based on exploration and reflection.

Examples

• Sampling different types of exercise classes before committing to a gym membership or fitness routine.
• Testing freelance work alongside a current job before transitioning into self-employment.
• Consulting others who’ve navigated similar paths and learning from their experiences.

3. Balance Knowledge with Emotional Readiness

Do you always seek information, or are there times you avoid it? Knowing when to seek knowledge and when to avoid it is essential to making better decisions. Information that aligns with your goals (instrumental value) or makes you feel good (hedonic value) is often sought out. But we tend to avoid news that might cause distress, even if it’s useful.

Take genetic medical testing as an example. Some people avoid it out of fear, even though the results might provide actionable steps. Behavioral tendencies, like present bias (favoring immediate comfort over future benefits), can push people toward ignorance. Yet evidence shows that bad news often feels less overwhelming than anticipated, and sometimes avoidance denies us valuable opportunities for growth.

The trick is to ask: Does this information help me achieve something, or will it improve my well-being? Awareness of this balance ensures you don’t block out knowledge that could guide or benefit you.

Examples

• Deciding to check credit scores for financial planning, despite fears of a low number.
• Reading reviews about a prospective employer before committing to a job.
• Learning about sustainable practices and adjusting habits despite the discomfort of lifestyle change.

4. Update Beliefs Intelligently

When faced with new evidence, people often interpret it in ways that reinforce their existing beliefs. This resistance to change is especially evident in debates over controversial topics like climate change or politics.

A concept called asymmetrical information updating explains this behavior. People adapt their interpretations selectively – e.g., bad news barely affects optimistic advocates, while skeptics dismiss good news. To grow, you need to critically assess whether your current beliefs and interpretations align with new knowledge.

To manage this, practice active self-awareness and balance your reaction to good and bad news. Adopting an open mindset helps ensure you grow rather than remain stuck in outdated thinking.

Examples

• Reflecting on differing political opinions during family debates without becoming defensive.
• Assessing both positive and negative customer reviews when shopping online for an unbiased view.
• Listening to information that challenges one’s dietary beliefs, such as adopting plant-based diets for health reasons.

5. Influence of Emotions and Social Ties on Beliefs

People’s beliefs are shaped not just by facts but also by emotions and their social context. Breaking away from entrenched beliefs often requires overcoming fear of social disapproval.

Communicating through "surprising validators" can help bridge divides. These are people whom others don’t expect to agree with yet find credible. Highlighting common ground and shared values further builds trust, paving the way for meaningful discussions even with opposing viewpoints.

Decision-making becomes more balanced when you combine logical reasoning with emotional awareness. Understanding that emotions and relationships underlie beliefs leads to better-quality conversations and decisions.

Examples

• A pro-environment business leader urging climate action might influence skeptics in their professional circle.
• Discussing food habits with friends by linking health benefits to shared cultural values.
• Leveraging sports figures to advocate for mental health, breaking societal stigmas.

6. Trust and Use Algorithms Wisely

Algorithms can make decisions faster, often eliminating human biases. From predicting medical conditions to recommending legal rulings, algorithms have proven their potential to outperform human judgment. Yet trust remains a major barrier.

One reason behind skepticism is that algorithms lack emotional intuition, and when errors occur, people overemphasize them compared to human mistakes. To improve trust, decision-makers should ensure algorithms are transparent and understandable.

For routine, high-data tasks, algorithms are ideal. But human judgment should complement them in nuanced scenarios requiring relationships or moral discretion.

Examples

• Using algorithm-assessed creditworthiness for loans instead of relying on subjective human assessments.
• Partnering human doctors with AI-driven diagnostics for more accurate results.
• Implementing transparency tools in self-driving cars to explain their safety decisions.

7. Manage Decision Fatigue with Delegation

Feeling exhausted from the small decisions you juggle daily? Delegation is a powerful way to reduce mental strain and focus on higher priorities. By trusting others or outsourcing routine tasks, you free up energy for creative or critical decisions.

Delegation isn’t just for the workplace – it can apply to chores, financial planning, and more. However, it may initially feel uncomfortable, especially if you struggle with perfectionism. Focusing on the big picture and trusting capable others can make delegation rewarding.

Examples

• Hiring a virtual assistant to schedule meetings.
• Entrusting gardening or house cleaning to professionals when time is limited.
• Letting a partner handle meal prep while focusing on parenting.

8. Embrace Flexibility in Decision-Making

Rigid planning leads to stress and dissatisfaction, especially when things don’t go as anticipated. Flexibility in decisions allows you to adapt without feeling disappointed by unforeseen outcomes.

This doesn't mean abandoning goals but recognizing when adjustments are needed. For instance, imagine over-planning a weekend getaway only to feel let down by unexpected weather. Adopting a flexible attitude would have ensured enjoyment despite the change.

By balancing planning and spontaneity, you gain resilience and satisfaction when faced with life’s unpredictability.

Examples

• Preparing alternative plans for vacations in case of delays or poor weather.
• Adapting during shifts in company priorities by learning new skills.
• Staying open when unexpected opportunities arise, even if they deviate from your main plan.

9. Reflect on Values Before Making Big Changes

Some decisions demand not just practicality but also alignment with your life values. Before making a significant change, reflect deeply on what truly matters to you – whether it’s family, creativity, achievement, or something else entirely.

This helps you stay centered even as external pressures or cultural norms push you toward certain paths. No decision will ever feel perfect, but values-based choices keep you on a path of purpose and contentment.

Examples

• Reassessing work-life balance goals regularly to stay aligned with family commitments.
• Choosing experiences, like travel, even if financial constraints suggest otherwise.
• Declining roles or promotions if they conflict with core principles.

Takeaways

1. Use second-order decisions for repetitive daily choices, such as planning meals or automating savings.
2. Break large decisions into smaller, reversible steps to reduce stress and gather insights.
3. Reflect on emotional and social influences in your beliefs, and challenge yourself to embrace new evidence and perspectives.