Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by a decision? If so, you aren't alone. Thanks to the abundance of choices we face daily, decision fatigue is increasingly common.
The Problem with Perfectionism
When you try to make the perfect decision, it can slow you down and lead to a slew of unpleasant emotions. This can also lead to missed opportunities.
What is Satisficing?
Satisficing is a decision-making strategy or cognitive heuristic that entails searching through the available alternatives until an acceptability threshold is met. A blend of "satisfy" and "suffice".
aka Good Enough
Maximizers vs. Satisficers
Research by psychologist Barry Schwartz distinguishes between two types of decision-makers:
- Maximizers: People who seek the absolute best option. They spend extensive time researching, comparing, and often second-guessing their choices.
- Satisficers: People who look for an option that meets their criteria and is "good enough." Once they find something that works, they move on.
Studies show that satisficers tend to be happier with their decisions and experience less regret, even when maximizers objectively make "better" choices.
Benefits of Embracing "Good Enough"
- Reduced Stress: Less time agonizing over decisions means less mental burden.
- More Time and Energy: You can redirect the time saved toward more meaningful activities.
- Greater Satisfaction: Paradoxically, accepting "good enough" often leads to greater contentment than endlessly chasing perfection.
- Better Progress: Done is better than perfect. Moving forward with a good-enough solution beats waiting for the ideal one.
When to Apply This Mindset
The "good enough" approach works well for:
- Daily decisions with limited long-term impact
- Situations where gathering more information has diminishing returns
- Creative projects where perfectionism can stifle progress
- Low-stakes choices that don't warrant extensive analysis
Of course, some decisions warrant careful deliberation—major life choices, safety-related matters, or situations with significant consequences. The key is recognizing which decisions truly need perfection and which can benefit from a "good enough" approach.
How to Practice Satisficing
- Define your criteria: Before making a decision, identify what "good enough" looks like for you.
- Set time limits: Give yourself a deadline for making decisions to avoid endless deliberation.
- Trust your initial instincts: Your gut feeling is often more reliable than you think.
- Limit options: When possible, reduce the number of choices you consider.
- Accept imperfection: Remind yourself that no choice is perfect, and that's okay.
Caveats
While embracing "good enough" can be liberating, it's important to keep these considerations in mind:
- Not all decisions should use this approach: Major life decisions—such as career changes, significant financial commitments, or health-related choices—may warrant more deliberation and careful analysis.
- Underlying anxiety: Chronic indecision or perfectionism may indicate underlying anxiety that benefits from professional support. If you find yourself paralyzed by even minor decisions, it may be worth speaking with a mental health professional.
- The goal is balance: Satisficing isn't about always settling for less—it's about recognizing when "good enough" truly is enough, and when a situation calls for more thorough consideration.
Conclusion
Embracing "good enough" isn't about settling for less or lowering your standards. It's about recognizing that perfection is often an illusion that holds us back. By learning to satisfice, we can make decisions more efficiently, reduce unnecessary stress, and ultimately live more fulfilling lives.
The next time you're faced with a decision, ask yourself: "Is good enough actually enough?" You might be surprised by how liberating the answer can be.
References
- Schwartz, B. (2004). The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. New York: Ecco. This influential work explores how an abundance of choices can lead to anxiety and dissatisfaction, and introduces the maximizer vs. satisficer distinction.
- Simon, H. A. (1956). Rational choice and the structure of the environment. Psychological Review, 63(2), 129-138. Simon's foundational work on bounded rationality introduced the concept of "satisficing" as a realistic model of human decision-making.
