How to make better decisions in less time

Once in a while, I'm going to share podcast episodes that genuinely shifted how I think.

Not every week. Just when something really lands.

I'm constantly reading, listening, and learning - at first it was just for me, but now that I've started this, it's for you too.

This is one of those episodes.

I came across a Jay Shetty podcast called "Give Me 23 Minutes and Never Struggle With a Decision Again" and it genuinely changed how I think about choices.

If you've ever been stuck in decision paralysis - big or small - this one's for you.

Jay shares Stanford research showing that excessive deliberation actually reduces decision quality by up to 25%.

The more we think, the worse we choose.

Why? Decision fatigue.

Every choice you make - what to wear, what to eat, what to watch - drains your mental energy. By the end of the day, you're so exhausted that you either do nothing or make impulsive choices you regret.

It's not a willpower problem. It's a decision-making problem.

This is why people like Steve Jobs wore the same clothes every day - they were preserving mental energy for decisions that actually mattered.

Jay introduces Jeff Bezos's framework: Type 1 vs. Type 2 decisions.

Type 1: Irreversible and high stakes. Think deeply.

Type 2: Reversible and low stakes. Decide fast.

Most of us treat every decision like Type 1. We treat choosing a Netflix show like choosing who to marry.

But the truth is: most things are reversible. You can turn off the show. You can try something else.

Jay says: "If I choose wrong, can I recover? If yes, then act."

That one question has saved me so much time.

Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio studied patients who could reason logically but couldn't make basic decisions. They were emotionally numb, and as a result, their decision-making broke down completely.

His conclusion: Without emotion, logic stalls.

We make decisions emotionally first, then justify them logically.

Jay suggests a three-step check-in:

I realized I was making decisions out of fear - fear of judgment, fear of looking stupid. Once I named it, I could separate what I actually wanted from what I was afraid of.

When you're stuck, ask yourself:

You know when you scroll Netflix for 40 minutes, watch 26 trailers, add shows to your list, remove them, go back to the same ones you already passed... and then you're too exhausted to actually watch anything?

Yeah. That was me last night.

By the time I finally chose something, I didn't even enjoy it. I just wanted to be done deciding.

Would that decision matter in 10 days? No. In 10 months? Definitely not.

But the decision to start this newsletter? That one did matter. So I gave it the time it deserved.

Indecision is still a decision.

The longer you stay stuck, the more anxiety builds. Action reduces anxiety - not certainty.

Jay says: once you choose, do something physical within 5 minutes. Send the email. Make the call. Book the thing.

Movement breaks the paralysis.

Confidence comes after action, not before.

I'm not going to pretend I've mastered this. I still overthink. But this episode gave me tools I didn't have before.

If you've been stuck on a decision - big or small - I'd really recommend listening to it.

Episode: Give Me 23 Minutes and Never Struggle With a Decision Again
Podcast: On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Listen here

Do you have a favorite podcast episode that changed how you think or feel about something?

Hit reply and send it to me. If it resonates, I'll summarize it and share it here so we can all learn from it. I always read ALL of your replies

If you are new, or just want another read, you can find here my past editions.

Who in your life could use a pause today?