The Challenges and Worries Of Having An Overwhelming Amount Of Options
Think back to a where smart boards were new to classrooms, using Chromebook on rare occasions at the library for an important project, transitioning from a flip phone or if you were cool, had a phone with a keyboard. Then to your first ever iPhone. That stage looking back, was about a decade.
Technology has made life easier or convenient to the say the least. You can buy virtually anything online, if you have internet and money, that’s pretty much all you need. Why do we enjoy it so much though? What’s wrong with walking or driving to our destinations? That comes down to convenience.
For example, if we have the desire to watch a movie, what do you do? What are your options? You have the option to drive to your town library and rent a DVD. But oh no, it is snowing outside, and you do not feel like driving downtown. What’s the next option? Netflix has it.
However, in order to watch the movie, you are required to purchase the basic Netflix membership for $8.99. However, you do want to buy it because you know there’s a free option with going to the library. There is a catch. The patient option is to wait for the roads to get better. On the contrary, the convenient option is to watch it instantly by purchasing the Netflix membership. It is all about choice.
According to the Merriam-Webster website, convenience is defined as “something conducive to comfort or ease” and is also described as “freedom from discomfort”. So, something that we can easily do without much thought involved. Although, being patient based on Merriam-Webster means to not be “hasty or impetuous”. In other words, to not act on impulses.
Ironically, when humans are given many options or alternatives to decide, The New York Times says it’s “a problem that can paralyze”. The article also mentions that when we are given too many things to choose from, we feel overwhelmed and “often that nagging feeling we could have done better”. It’s as if we are afraid of making the wrong decision. Instead of sticking to our instinct or gut feeling, we tend to doubt. Looking at the the digital world, The Pew Research Center says that “90% of American adults from 18–29yrs use at least one social media platform”. So, users are being exposed to a plethora of advertisements from all over.
For example, if you want to purchase an iPhone, you can look for one at Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart or even the Facebook Marketplace. As a result of having so many places to choose from, it causes us to do extensive research, trying finding the best deals. With the advantage of technology, the entry-cost and fee is more accessible to people to start their own businesses meaning more choices will be available. These options are only going to increase in the future, as a result of COVID-19. Returning to The New York Times article, Mr. Scheibehenne says, “it is not clear that more choice gives you more freedom. It could decrease our freedom if we spend so much time trying to make choices.”
In general this effects our life decisions. What college will students end up applying to? What apartment or house do you want? How about the type of car you need? The choices are endless. Additionally, Psychology Today categorizes this issue in four ways, “Decision Paralysis”, “disappointment”, “self-blame” and “beauty in simplicity”
To summarize the four main points from the article, decision paralysis results in people opting out of decisions because of it being too complicated. Secondly, disappointment leads to humans not being satisfied when there is always another option to choose from. Thirdly, we feel self-blame because of guilt.
Lastly, beauty in simplicity means that if we do not overthink and dwell on something for too long then decisions become more easier to make. That last part is important because not overthinking is the key to being satisfied with a decision. Simplicity also means narrowing your choices.
For example, if one is looking to apply to a college, narrow the process to five to ten colleges and start researching from there. It often reminds me of looking at a syllabus or calendar of all the assignments and projects required to complete. It feels quite daunting and can easily lead to stress or anxiety. As humans we always want to know what is next for our future.
In general, by taking a small increment or chunk of time and slowly eat away at it or work on those assignment will help reduce that feeling of being overwhelmed. The rise of technology and online businesses is making us realize the significance of organizing.
Preventing stress, overthinking and guilt are key to a happier life style. One way to help with reducing this problem is by creating a filter where you list the pros or highlight aspects that you like about a certain subject or topic. This helps narrow the search field instead of having thousands of options to choose from.
Another example is commitment. Staying committed illustrates trust. Sticking to a decision also means you are confident.
Thirdly, is learning through your decision making and evaluating what worked well. Not every choice an individual makes is perfect. We are constantly adapting and figuring out ways to get better at what we do.
Currently, the overwhelming amount of options have caused many to feel lost and unsure. By applying those three aspects, it can help make decisions easier to make.
