Decision Paralysis: When Small Choices Feel Overwhelming
Have you ever felt anxious or overly stimulated because of small decisions? What clothes to wear, which restaurant to order from, or even what YouTube video to choose while eating, all these decisions sometimes feel too much. There is an art of making small decisions and learning this process can make life much easier.
Muhammad Qanit
3/8/20253 min read
Standing in front of your closet, overwhelmed by the choices, only to wear the same thing you always do? Or scrolling through tons of restaurants, trying to figure out what to eat but you end up giving up and skipping the meal? If so, you've experienced decision paralysis, the uncontrollable stress and feeling you feel when you can't make even small choices.
For some, it’s just a minor annoyance. However, for others, it leads to stress and frustration, feels exhausting, and can even make them anxious. If you constantly feel stuck making decisions, you're not alone. The first step in solving a problem is insight, so read on to understand why you feel stuck and how to break free from it.
Why Do Small Decisions Feel So Hard?
At first glance, choosing between coffee or tea, jeans or joggers, or staying in or going out seems simple. But when every decision feels high-stakes, the brain freezes. Here’s why:
Fear of Making the Wrong Choice
Deep down, many of us fear regret. What if we choose something and later realize it wasn’t the best option? This fear makes even low-risk decisions feel high pressure, leading to overthinking. I remember being in a bookstore, staring at two novels for what felt like forever. I was afraid I’d pick the wrong one and waste my money. Instead of choosing, I left empty-handed, regretting the lost time and experience.
Too Many Options = Mental Overload
We live in a world with endless choices. There are hundreds of cereal brands, clothing styles, career paths, and TV shows to pick from. Instead of feeling empowered, our brains get overwhelmed, making it harder to choose. An extremely close friend of mine wanted to buy some headphones, and it took over a month to decide which one. He thoroughly researched every aspect but still, I had to pick an option at the end because all these options overloaded his thought process.
Perfectionism Makes It Worse
Decision-making becomes stressful if you always aim for the “perfect” choice. Instead of trusting your gut, you analyze every possible outcome, afraid of making a mistake. This is something I suffer from because I don't jump into anything unless I feel it's perfect. For instance, whenever my father asks me to craft him a message, I spend a long time even if it's just a two-liner because I feel that everything should be perfect.
Mental Fatigue from Decision Overload
By the end of the day, even simple decisions like “What should I eat for dinner?” feel exhausting. This is because our brains have limited mental energy, and too many decisions drain it fast. Ever wonder why you can’t decide what to watch after a long day? It’s because you’ve already made dozens of choices throughout the day, and your brain is just done making more.
The Pressure to Optimize Everything
We live in a culture that glorifies making the best decision in every situation. Whether it’s choosing the “healthiest” meal, the “most productive” morning routine, or the “best” job opportunity, the pressure to always optimize can make decisions feel overwhelming.
How to Break Free from Decision Paralysis
If you often feel paralyzed by choices, here are some ways to regain control:
Set a Time Limit for Decisions
Give yourself a deadline for small choices. For example, “I’ll pick a movie in 5 minutes.” This stops overthinking and forces you to trust your instincts.
Reduce the Number of Options
Too many choices make decisions harder. Try limiting your options upfront. If you’re shopping, pick only 3 choices to compare. If you’re choosing a restaurant, shortlist two places and pick one.
Stop Looking for the “Perfect” Choice
Most of the time, there’s no perfect option—only a good enough one. Ask yourself: Will this choice matter in a week? A year? If not, go with what feels right and move on.
Create Routines for Daily Decisions
Mark Zuckerberg wears the same outfit every day. Why? Because removing small decisions saves mental energy for bigger ones. Try automating some choices, like meal prepping or having a go-to morning routine
Flip a Coin (Yes, Really!)
If you’re truly stuck, flip a coin, not because you’ll follow it, but because it reveals your gut feeling. When you see the result, notice your reaction. Did you feel relieved or disappointed? That’s your answer.
Accept That No Decision is Also a Decision
Sometimes, waiting too long means missing opportunities altogether. Even if you choose “wrong,” you learn from it. The real mistake is letting indecision hold you back from experiencing life.
Taking It Slow
While decision paralysis may be frustrating, it does not need to be something you struggle with. You can make decisions effortlessly and confidently by creating boundaries, simplifying options, and accepting imperfection. The next time you're struggling to select an outfit, a restaurant, or a movie, keep reminding yourself that any option is favorable compared to having no option.
What is a small, actionable decision you can try today without giving it too much thought?
