#11 Better wrong than nothing
Some students, when faced with a tough question, freeze up like a deer in headlights—they just sit there staring, doing nothing. At least write something! It’s okay to make mistakes; just don’t leave it blank.
My college math professor told us after a midterm exam.
I also had a “deer in headlights” moment recently.
To be or not to be
While building a web app, I had to choose between design option A and B. I thought about many factors, such as user preferences, database design, and the workload differences for frontend. Just when I thought A was the better option, self-doubt crept in: Is A really the best choice? What's better about B? Or is there an option C I haven't discovered yet?
The Negative bias
By the time I came to my senses, more than two hours had passed. After get off work, the AB problem was still lingering in my mind. Whether I was eating or working out, it was running like a background program - running some worried sentences: Why haven't I chosen a better option yet? Will the project be stuck because of this problem? Can it be completed on time? If the project cannot be completed...
It doesn't even matter
Later, I wrote down the pros and cons of options A and B, and found that the amount of work would not differ much no matter which one I chose. And after choosing A, even if I regretted it, I could still do B.
After making the choice, I felt a lot more relaxed and found my previous confusion ridiculous: to users, it was just a difference in button position, or between clicking once or twice, but I was so confused that I almost lost my mind.
Causes of decision paralysis
What the fawn experienced was temporary paralysis brought on by a predator, and what I experienced was decision paralysis woven by my own brain: a state of inability to make decisions when faced with multiple options due to overthinking, fear of making the wrong decision, or trying to find the "best" option. It is usually accompanied by repeated weighing, anxiety, and uncertainty, which makes people confused among various options and ultimately unable to take action.
The later you make a decision, the more anxious you become.
Decision paralysis can delay a project, but the mental exhaustion it brings is even more deadly. Due to uncertainty about the A and B choices, the human brain's survival instinct will imagine negative possibilities. Just like after get off work, I have no intention of doing anything else. My energy is occupied by worry and anxiety, which leads to a lot of self-doubt and frustration.
Happy emotions will gradually calm down, but sad and angry emotions will intensify over time. Just like when friends have conflicts, if they are not resolved in time, they will get more and more angry. A small matter at first swelled up like bread with yeast. Overthinking made the AB problem more difficult than it actually was, and I fell into the trap of my own imagination.
How to make decisions quickly
Right > Wrong > Empty is better than nothing
The anxiety that comes from worrying about making the wrong choice is worse than making the wrong choice. Theodore Roosevelt once said:
In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Set a time limit for two way door decision
Set a time limit based on the size of the problem you want to solve. If it is a life problem with a high cost, such as choosing a major in college or a career, you can spend more time thinking about it. If it is a reversible choice (or the cost is small), set a shorter decision time.
Complex problems List options space for time
For complex problems, it is best to list the pros and cons of each option, and then make a choice based on priority. The essence of "a good brain is not as good as a bad pen" is to use the space on paper to reduce the burden on the brain, and space in exchange for time will make it easier to make a decision.
Conclusion
Imperfect decisions are not terrible. The feedback from actions is the driving force for progress. When you are struggling, remember to set a time limit, list the options, and take the first step. Progress comes from constant attempts and adjustments, not standing still. Move fast and break things 👍