From Coin Flips to 1000-Day Plans: Actionable Heuristics for Better Decisions
Navigating the myriad choices we face daily can be daunting. A recent online discussion explored a variety of personal 'decision-making hacks' or heuristics that individuals use to streamline this process and make better choices. These insights offer practical strategies for everything from daily habits to social interactions.
Embracing Long-Term Perspectives and Habit Formation
One of the most impactful heuristics shared was the "1,000-day rule". Contributor treetalker explained this by asking: "What will happen if I make this same choice 1,000 days (or more) in a row?" This mental exercise forces a long-term perspective, highlighting how small, consistent actions compound over time. This ties into their other heuristic: "What I do now is what I always do." This serves as a dual reminder: current actions are often extensions of past habits, and present choices are actively shaping future habits. treetalker emphasized that action is what matters, not theorizing, illustrating with personal examples like choosing to exercise (even when injured, by modifying the workout) or opting for an apple and a book over snacks and TV, knowing these choices contribute to long-term well-being and knowledge.
The Power of Action and Experimentation
For decisions where the stakes are low and outcomes are reversible, swah advocated for acting carelessly and experimenting. Instead of spending excessive time deliberating (e.g., morning vs. afternoon gym), they suggest simply trying one option and changing it if it doesn’t work. This applies to software development too, where implementing and testing both options can be cheaper and more revealing than prolonged mental debate. This agile approach leverages the ease of undoing changes (e.g., with git).
Another action-oriented heuristic, shared by chistev, involves tossing a coin when faced with two choices. The trick isn't to let the coin decide, but to recognize that "in that brief moment when the coin is in the air YOU SUDDENLY KNOW WHAT YOUR HOPING FOR." This cleverly uses a seemingly random process to uncover subconscious preferences.
Simplifying Choices with Defaults and Frameworks
Sometimes, the best decision is the simplest one. kratom_sandwich shared two straightforward defaults:
- "When in doubt, save money / do the cheaper thing" (especially for consumption and vacation planning).
- "Say yes" (for activities with friends/colleagues), echoing the sentiment of the movie "The Yes Man."
ottaborra reinforced the first point, noting a friend who often regrets not saving money. treetalker also offered a simple, positive default: if seeing flowers at a store, the answer to "Should I buy some for my $specialPerson?" is always yes.
For more complex situations, MultifokalHirn suggested a combination of "Gut feeling + risk assessment," though ottaborra noted that gut feelings might not always scale well as a sole heuristic.
Navigating Social Decisions
Building on the "say yes" idea, cedws added a crucial follow-up for social interactions: if you must decline an invitation, make plans for the next time. They also introduced a "two strikes rule": if two attempts to invite someone out are declined without reciprocal energy, they stop investing in maintaining that relationship, applying a similar rule to one-sided conversations to avoid "social vampires."
Overcoming Inertia for Known Positives
Finally, swah shared a common but powerful observation, often applied to habits like exercise: "Once there, I never regretted going to the gym." This heuristic helps overcome initial resistance by focusing on the consistently positive outcome of an activity that might require activation energy.
In essence, these diverse heuristics offer a toolkit for more mindful and effective decision-making, whether by considering long-term impacts, encouraging action and experimentation, simplifying choices, or navigating social landscapes with greater intention.