How much choice do you need in making a decision? Not as much as you may think

Long ago, when I was a new department chairman at Boise State University, the department’s very wise assistant gave me some advice.

“Don’t give faculty members too much choice — when you set the teaching schedule, give them two time slots as options. If they have more, they’ll take too much effort to decide, and you’ll be shifting times around to fit everyone’s ideal schedule.”

She was so right. Less choice can be the better option in some cases.

I find that rule holds today — at home, at work and perhaps even in politics.

At home, we are in the process of doing some remodeling. I tell the contractor to give me no more than four or five choices — of cabinet style, flooring, or paint colors. I can then make a choice in less than 10 minutes. In contrast, when my husband and I went to a lighting store to choose lights for a bathroom, we argued, we wrestled, we changed our minds … for over an hour. Wasted time we’ll never get back.

At work, we were debating taking an international trip to Asia, but the coronavirus makes those plans uncertain. We still want to go and will wait till mid April to make the final decision (go or no go), but once the decision is made, we’ll move on and not second guess.

So these days, if it’s possible, I wait for or request few choices (assuming they are all good ones) and then make a decision. Saves stress and hassle, and takes up less mind space.

You can almost always change a decision — small and large, if absolutely necessary, from where to live to what job to take or who to marry (or unmarry). To my mind, the only decision you can never undo is having children.

But most decisions are not so grand or meaningful. So rather than fretting each one, make it and move forward. Try it for a week and see what happens.

Nancy Napier is a Boise State University distinguished professor. nnapier@boisestate.edu