How to make a fast decision when you’re feeling indecisive

Do you need to make a fast decision with a partner or small group? Perhaps what restaurant to go to, what movie to watch, or what board game to play? (The latter is how I use this the most!) This simple method will help you make those types of decisions that seem straightforward on paper, but make you feel paralyzed by the sheer number of options.

You need the 5-2-1 method!

What is the 5-2-1 method?

What I love about this way to make a decision is that it’s very straightforward. When you have two people:

• The first person chooses five options – that is, restaurants, movies, board games, or whatever.
• The second person narrows the list down to two.
• The third person chooses one of those two options.
• You go with that. No take-backs!

I have also used this method with a group of three, where one person chose five options, the next two, and the last narrowed it to one. For four people, you could use 7-5-2-1 or 5-3-2-1. 

What kinds of decisions does this approach work for?

The 5-2-1 approach is best when there are a lot of choices or options – think Cheesecake Factory menu. (Eek!) This is when you’re most likely to get hit with the choice overwhelm effect.

Since the 5-2-1 format is designed for making a fast decision and does not involve any option evaluation to speak of, I would use it for relatively inconsequential choices that won’t affect you beyond the next few hours. If you have a bad dinner or don’t enjoy a movie, you’ll come out unscathed. So use this way to decide when you’re experiencing decision fatigue and the choice just needs to get done.

This method is also best for when you’re deciding with another person or people, to get that ping-pong element of passing the decision back and forth until it’s done. However, you could also try it when you have a choice to make by yourself. Simply write down your five best options, then cross three out, and then choose one of the two remaining.

Why the 5-2-1 method works

First, it forces you to define your options. Research has shown that you are more likely to follow through with a decision when you have fewer options, and to be more satisfied with the result. So, by quickly narrowing the pool to only five options, you’ve made the choice easier.

Then, it forces you to use the process of elimination. There are only five options to evaluate, making it easier to compare them and select the two that interest you most – much easier than when the entire universe of options was available, because you can now hold them all in your mind. 

Lastly, when using this with multiple people, it allows you to share the burden of deciding with others. We’re less likely to experience decision fatigue when deciding for others, and it’s more likely to be fun to decide for someone else. So, when it’s your turn in the 5-2-1 process, focus on the other person(s) you’re deciding for in order to feel best about your choice.

Do you ever have trouble deciding what restaurant to go to or what movie to watch? How do you choose?