If you are struggling in deciding between two choices:

  • Decision Rule Version 1 (less extreme): Choose any one of them. The variance around either outcome is generally larger than the margins of your pros and cons (by definition - you are struggling to choose). It is best to choose a path than stagnate.
  • Decision Rule Version 2 (more extreme): Choose the one that takes you furthest away from your current state. Some empirical studies support this. Also assumes there is sunk cost and endowment bias on average and hence status quo is being overweighted.

For decisions in general, it is very important that you are able to live with the outcomes, regret and doubt are not healthy. There are tactics you can employ to assist you. As Tim Ferriss describes his interpretation of Schwartz's The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less - the more options you consider, the more buyer's regret you'll have; the more options you encounter, the less fulfilling your ultimate outcome will be.

Figure