How to Make a Quick Decision

Co-authored by Julia Lyubchenko, MS, MA and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: September 19, 2024 Approved

Whether you’re deciding what to eat for dinner or whether or not to take on a new project, you’re faced with making dozens of decisions each day. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, allow yourself to make fast decisions based on the information you have. You'll probably feel a lot better committing to a choice and not second-guessing yourself. Plus, the more often you make quick decisions, the better at it you'll get!

1

Use the 10-10-10 strategy for an important decision.

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Think about the future if you're making a decision that has consequences. Not sure if you're happy with your quick decision? Give yourself a moment to consider if you'll be happy with the outcome in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. If you're making a low-consequence decision, like buying a laptop, just ask yourself if you'll be happy in 10 minutes and 10 months from now.^{[1]
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- This is a great way to give yourself permission to analyze without overthinking.

2

Trust your instincts to make an intuitive decision.

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Go with your gut if you feel like one option is better than the others. You might find that you're leaning toward one solution more than the others for no reason other than you have a feeling. It's totally okay to trust yourself and run with that option!^{[2]
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- For instance, if you're trying to decide which course to enroll in, ask yourself, "Which one do I keep coming back to?"

3

Use the process of elimination if you've got lots of options.

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Think of all your choices and identify the one you're leaning toward. Then, compare that option with each of your other choices. Each time you mentally compare, eliminate 1 choice so you'll be left with the best option. Run through them quickly so you don't overthink possible outcomes.^{[3]
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- For example, if you're trying to quickly decide on what to do over the weekend, you might ask yourself if you'd rather go camping or see a movie. Then, ask yourself if you'd rather see a movie or go to a concert. You'll work through your options to come up with the best choice.

4

Use the information you've got for the fastest decision.

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Compare your existing options instead of gathering more information. If you start researching your options, you might get overwhelmed or feel unsure about what to do. Plus, you probably don't have much time! Instead, work with what you know and go from there.^{[4]
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- For instance, if you're trying to quickly pick a restaurant to eat at, you might use the knowledge of what's nearby to make a choice instead of getting online and reading reviews for every restaurant in the city.
- If it's truly a quick decision, you might only have seconds or a few minutes to make a choice. Any longer than this, and you'll probably have a harder time committing to a choice.

5

Rely on past experiences to weigh outcomes.

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Remember if you've made a similar decision and if you liked the result. If you had to make a quick choice before and it turned out okay, you might choose a similar option. However, if things didn't work out, consider doing things differently this time to get a better outcome.^{[5]
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- For instance, if friends ask you if you'd like to hang out at a cafe or do laser tag, you can immediately reference your experience with laser tag to make a quick decision.

6

Outsource the decision if you value an outside opinion.

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Ask someone to present you with a recommendation. If you're trying to make a low-stakes decision that has some consequences but you're too busy, ask a co-worker or your partner to come up with a recommendation. This is especially helpful if you're making a decision about something you don't know a lot about.^{[6]
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- For instance, if you're shopping for new tires and you've got a dozen options that all seem the same to you, ask the sales representative to give you 1 or 2 recommendations. Again, the stakes are low, so you just need to make a choice.

7

Commit to one choice so you don't overthink things.

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It's easy to second-guess yourself, but stick with your choice. Remember, there's not a single "right" or "wrong" decision—and once you've made your quick decision, there will always be more to make!^{[7]
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- You'll make it harder to choose if you're afraid of the outcome. Instead, it might help to think about what would happen if you did nothing. In many cases, doing something is better than nothing so don't be afraid to act!^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Julia Lyubchenko, MS, MA
  Licensed Therapist
  
  Expert Interview. 29 April 2020.}
Malcolm Gladwell, Writer

Trust your intuition. "Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking."

8

Let fate decide if you're completely unsure.

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Flip a coin or randomly pick if your decision doesn't have consequences. A lot of the minor decisions we make are actually just little details that don't really impact us—what show do you want to watch? Which restaurant should you eat at? Since there aren't any "wrong" answers, don't stress with decision-making. Roll a die, flip a coin, point your finger at a map—the point is to pick something.^{[9]
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- This can take some getting used to, but you'll really save time and effort.

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Question

How do I make the right decision?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

There is no such thing as the "right" decision. You just do the best you can with what facts you have at your disposal at the time. Don't use hindsight—that will mess you up every time!

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Question

How do I make a difficult decision?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

A difficult decision takes some strategy. You can make a pro and con list, talk to trusted others, and also sleep on it. Giving yourself some perspective and taking the pressure off can really help.

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Question

How do you speed up decision making?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

Remind yourself that your choice does not have to be perfect. It is ok if it is adequate. There are no guarantees in advance, and that is ok.

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Thinking too much about every little decision you make can sap your energy! If you can quickly make choices without thinking too much, you'll have more focus for the harder choices.

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