How to beat choice overload
Every week we curate 3 ultra-focused ideas to reduce life complexity.
Every week we curate 3 ultra-focused ideas to reduce life complexity. On Saturday we share them with you via email.
Let’s start!
Choice overload: where it comes from and how to avoid it
How long does it take to you to choose a pair of jeans? Even if you consider only one brand there is a gazillion of combinations of different materials, textures, colors, fits and obviously prices.
The same scene repeats every time you have to make a choice: when you shop, when you plan a wedding, when you search for a job. The overwhelming amount of options leads to choice overload. So, it takes far longer than necessary. But worse, when your time is over, when you have to pull the trigger, stress and confusion can force the wrong choice for you.
The overwhelm comes from three fears:
perfectionism - you fear making a suboptimal choice and missing an opportunity,
fear of regret - inevitable, because of the multitude of options you'll leave on the table,
perceived status - what will your peers think of your choice?
Science has not found a solution yet. But Barry Schwartz, an academic authority on the subject has a suggestion: find the "good enough" choice. Be sure of what you really need. Look for the solution that satisfies those requisites. Stop when you find it and don't look back: additional features are optional.
[Read the full content here: Spoiled for choice]
The definition of success is autonomy
History is littered with successful men and women who ended up miserable. You know the drill:
the author spending 80% of his time promoting his books, instead of writing,
the singer forced to publish only the songs that will sell, not the most creative ones,
the entrepreneur who cannot stop working.
The same happens on a much smaller scale, in all of our lives. We fight for results that in the end limit our freedom.
Our homes are great examples. We work overtime, save enough money for a huge down payment, and finally move to the house of our dreams. But in the long run, we realize that it ends up sucking too much time to clean it, maintain it, furnish it.
The solution isn't to stop desiring to improve. It's reviewing all your goals and asking: does this give me more autonomy or less?
When the answer is no, consider very carefully whether the loss of freedom is the right price to pay for that goal.
[Read the full content here: The definition of success is autonomy]
How to rest like the best
If you are ambitious like me you probably have forgotten how to really rest. I don't mean when you sleep, rather when you take a break.
Those breaks are vital. They avoid being exhausted come dinner time.
But we live in an always-on society. And we want to always achieve more. I'm continuously struggling with the feeling that every idle minute is wasted.
But with this attitude, breaks are the ones getting wasted. You stop working, but check your phone, listen to a podcast or do something you feel useful.
This. Is. Not. A. Break.
You need to disconnect your mind and most of all really relax.
Leo Babauta suggests 4 ways to do it:
close your eyes and try to drop all thoughts as they come up,
go outside without a device and connect with nature (the smells, the sounds, the sights),
relax with someone, staying silent or talking of something simple and peaceful,
be fully present with a simple non-work activity, like sipping tea.
I feel a strong resistance against these kinds of activities. My mind screams: "it's a waste of time".
But if I practice them just for some minutes, the positive effect is unavoidable. My mind clears, my tension melts and I am ready to start producing again.
[Read the full content here: The lost art of true rest]
Best book of the week (for me)
Tiny Habits, by BJ Fogg
Pros → A reliable method to change behavior. It helps you find the smallest version of the habit you want to build, make it a part of your daily life, and gradually scale it up. I read a lot in this field. This method seems the one that can finally bring the change you need.
Cons → You still have to follow the method! 😜 None can implant a new behavior in your brain.
And you? Which book did you enjoy recently? Let us know. We are always on the lookout for exciting new titles.
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Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Now, I’m curious about you. What decisions are challenging you at the moment? What are the mental strategies that you find more helpful?
Write me back!
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Until next week,
Alberto
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