11 Proven Ways to Make Smarter Choices in Life
Written by Michelle Ong | December 7, 2024 | Growth
We are all influenced by things around us that can sway our decisions. Discover 11 proven ways to make smarter choices in life.
“Good choices are the foundation for a good life.”
The choices we make every day shape our lives, and some decisions can be a game-changer, leading to a totally different life. So, it’s no exaggeration to say that the path to a better life starts with the decisions you make today.
Our brains rely on shortcuts, called heuristics, that help us make choices quickly, but these shortcuts can also lead to mistakes when we are biased or feel overwhelmed. Emotions, past experiences, and even the way choices are presented all influence our decisions, often without us realizing it.
In this post, we will explore simple ways to make better choices and avoid common decision-making pitfalls.
1. Ask Why
It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” – Roy E. Disney
Are you really clear on why you made a certain choice? Do you understand the reasoning behind it? This simple yet crucial factor can often make the difference between a good decision and a poor one.
Understanding why you’re making a choice is powerful. It strengthens your confidence in that decision and often ties back to your core values and life goals.
What story do you want your life to tell? What picture are you painting with your choices?
💡Dive into this post to explore defining your ikigai and learn practical steps for finding your path.
2. Simplify
Some of us tend to overthink when facing multiple choices, but this only fills our minds with clutter and distracts us.
Don’t get stuck in “what ifs.” Set a simple rule for yourself: don’t overthink or make things more complicated than they need to be. If a decision doesn’t go as planned, take a constructive approach: learn from it and move on.
Making a mind map, journaling, or talking it over with a friend, are some simple ways to organize your thoughts. Even a simple pros and cons list can help you see things more clearly, especially when facing tough choices.
3. Stay Objective
Staying calm and objective can be a real game-changer when making choices that stir up strong emotions. As much as we may want to vent our frustration, anger, or hurt when we feel overwhelmed with emotions, these are the moments when keeping a clear head matters most.
By keeping a clear head, you free your mind to reflect on key questions that help direct your thoughts and ultimately your decision: What kind of person do you want to be, and how does this choice shape that? Will this decision energize or drain you? Which core values are you honoring? Can you commit to it long-term if needed?
A helpful tip is to imagine you are advising a good friend—what would you recommend them to do? Or picture yourself consulting your mind’s council of advisors; what wise advice would they give?
Let reason be your guide to anchor you through the process. And do a risk-benefit analysis and consider the effort versus the reward to decide if a choice is truly worthwhile.
💡If you find it tough to stay calm, check out this post for some helpful tips.
4. Effort Is Part Of The Deal
We all love a good deal—something easy and super beneficial is a no-brainer. But life isn’t always that simple.
The better choice often involves effort, and sticking with it can be tough. It might even require short-term sacrifice and shake up your current lifestyle. Because of this, it’s tempting to avoid the struggle and go for the easier option with quick rewards—ignoring the long-term impact.
Even if the better choice is clear, we might shy away from it because of the time, effort, and possibly commitment it demands upfront. Reasons for this could be due to a lack of confidence, resources, or simply not feeling ready.
It is important to have faith and believe in yourself when making such choices. Remember, anything worthwhile requires effort and commitment.
5. The Big Picture
“The hardest thing in life is to know which bridge to cross and which to burn.” – David Russell
Consider the Stoic principle of memento mori—imagine yourself on your deathbed. What will you regret doing or not doing? In one year, what will you regret not starting today?
Taking a long-term view helps you step back and see the big picture, rather than getting caught up in the immediate downsides.
6. Beware Of Self-Sabotage
“In every moment of our lives, we are faced with decisions that will either lead us toward or away from who we want to be.” “
Pride is like dropping a stone on your own foot. When you think you are always right or overestimate your abilities and resources, it clouds your judgment. This can lead to poor decisions and mistakes you could have avoided.
💡You might also want to check out this post for a list of habits that could be sabotaging your progress, and learn to recognize and avoid them.
7. Get Comfortable With Discomfort
How certain do you really need to be to make the call? What is the point when you will stop over-analyzing and just decide?
To answer these questions, think about the impact of your decision versus the time and energy you spend gathering information. A straightforward approach is to perform a risk-benefit analysis—what are the risks of your choices?
If you tend to overthink and take too long to decide, is fear or overthinking holding you back from acting? Be honest with yourself.
Life is an adventure, and nothing is guaranteed. If everything were certain, wouldn’t life be pretty dull?
Often, we don’t have all the details we think we need to make a decision. Waiting for complete certainty isn’t practical, and risks are a natural part of the journey.
We have to learn to make choices even when we don’t have all the answers—but that doesn’t mean being reckless. Instead, take calculated risks. Think of your choice as an experiment—start small and test it out to reduce uncertainty.
8. Name Your Fears
Fear is a powerful force when it comes to making decisions that causes us to second-guess ourselves. There’s the fear of making the wrong choice, of regret, shame, and ridicule, of missing out on opportunities, wasting time, or losing control. All of these fears can cloud your judgment and even lead to inaction. Understanding your fears and becoming aware of them can actually help you make better decisions.
Tim Ferriss talks about a fear-setting exercise in his book The 4-Hour Workweek. It’s about focusing on what really matters to you, and consciously deciding not to dwell on what you can’t control or what you choose to miss out on.
By understanding how your beliefs and values shape your experience, you can gain better insight into yourself. Once you recognize the “monsters under your bed,” you can master your fears and face them head-on.
9. Trust Your Gut
Ever had that uneasy feeling when you were about to make a choice, like something just didn’t sit right?
Maybe it was taking a job that seemed great on paper, but your gut told you it wasn’t the right fit, or agreeing to a plan with friends that you just felt uncomfortable about—only to later find out it wasn’t a good idea.
Intuition can be a powerful tool. It might not always make sense, but it can surprisingly be spot on at times. Trusting your gut can save you from making choices that don’t align with your values or goals.
So, when something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it—listen to that inner voice, it’s often more accurate than you think.
10. The 10-10-10 Rule
Would you splurge on an expensive, flashy sports car that eats up more than half of your monthly salary in installment payments?
Sure, in 10 minutes, that shiny dream car might give you a confidence boost, making you feel thrilled and on top of the world.
But in 10 months, you could be drowning in regret, stressed about your stretched finances and other priorities. And in 10 years? That car will likely be outdated, and the money could have been far better spent on something meaningful—like a dream vacation, an investment, or building financial security.
This is where the 10-10-10 rule, introduced by Suzy Welch in her book 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea, helps us make smarter choices. It encourages us to pause and reflect on the potential impact of our decisions over three time frames: 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.
By considering these perspectives, we gain clarity and ensure our decisions align with our long-term goals and values instead of getting caught up in short-term excitement. This simple yet powerful framework helps us avoid impulsive decisions and leads to outcomes we will feel good about in the long run.
So, the next time you are faced with a tough decision, remember to ask yourself these three questions to guide you toward smarter choices: How will I feel about this in 10 minutes? What will the consequences be in 10 months? And how will it affect my life in 10 years?
11. Work With Your Body
Ever tried making a big decision in the middle of the afternoon and found your brain just… foggy? Or felt super sharp and on top of things during a late-morning coffee break? That’s no coincidence—our bodies have a built-in rhythm that influences when we’re at our sharpest for making good choices.
Research shows that our brain’s decision-making power peaks several hours after we wake up, thanks to rising cortisol (a hormone released when we are stressed) levels that boost alertness and mental clarity. For most people, this means the late morning is the sweet spot for sharp thinking and smart decisions. But as lunchtime rolls around, many of us hit a natural dip in energy and focus.
Interestingly, not everyone’s rhythm is the same. Some people—”morning larks”—thrive earlier in the day, while others—”night owls”—are at their best in the evening. Recognizing your chronotype, or your body’s natural schedule, can be a game-changer in making better decisions.
The takeaway? Work with your body, not against it. Plan important decisions during your mental peak and save routine tasks for low-energy periods. It’s a simple, effective way to make your body’s natural inclinations work for you.
Final Thoughts
Some people tend to blame others when things go wrong. But the truth is, you are the sum total of the choices you have made until now. If you are not happy with where you are, it’s time to start making better choices.
The first step is to learn from your past decisions—reflect on what went well and where things didn’t go as planned. But don’t let your mistakes keep you stuck or influence you to “play it safe”. Every choice, good or bad, is a chance to grow and move forward.
Lastly, here are some helpful rules to keep in mind: When you are feeling overwhelmed, hold off on making decisions until your emotions settle. Give yourself time to think clearly. And if you are used to relying on others for advice, try listening to your own instincts and trusting your own judgment more.
Do use the tips in this post to help guide you toward making better choices from now on. If you found this post helpful, please pin and share it with your family and friends so they can benefit from it too!
And if you are curious about why we sometimes make poor choices, check out this post where I dive into the common pitfalls that can hold us back.
