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Have you ever visited a computer store and thought: Hmmm...let's see what they have?
Only now, you find yourself overwhelmed by 9375 options of different brands, price ranges, colours, configurations, etc.
This is called choice overload— when your brain is bombarded with multiple options, leading to anxiety and an inability to make decisions.
What comes next is...
What's the best seller?
What if I choose the worst device?
Will this laptop serve my life well?
I feel you. I've been there, and I'll tell you how to avoid choice overload with the following three tips.
Tip 1: Set the Right Expectation
Do it before you go into the shop. List all the criteria that you need in a product. Make them relevant and practical.
For example, if you want to buy a laptop, think about:
brand
battery life
budget
Then rank them in order of importance. This helps you focus on your priorities and make wise decisions.
If not, you'll get bombarded by many options to trigger what you think you want — and that's a choice overload trap, my friend!
Quiz
Yu want to buy a new pair of shoes specifically for weekend running purposes. What criteria should you consider? Choose all that apply:
Think about how comfy, durable, and well-fitted the shoes should be when you run, not how fancy the brand is.
Tip 2: Limit the Number of Options
Considering 3-5 options is much easier than 30-50 options. So, try to pick and choose between a small number of options to avoid choice overload. It saves you time and energy, especially when you buy ordinary items like...a can of soda.
I know what you're thinking: What if I make a bad decision?
It's absolutely fine! We're all humans, and we do sometimes make mistakes. Let go of this regretful feeling, and you'll make better purchasing decisions next time.
Tip 3: Read Product Reviews Strategically
It's common sense to look for reviews and ratings when you purchase something. But be selective and strategic. Refer to your list of criteria (Tip 1) and read relevant comments only.
Let's go back to the example of buying a laptop, if your priorities are:
brand
battery life
budget
Seek product reviews related to these factors. Think about questions like:
Is this a reputable and established brand?
How long is the battery life? Is it aligned with the advertised description?
Did other users also spend this much money on it? Is it worth the price?
Don't drown yourself in a sea of feedback! It creates more stress and confuses you even more because each user has their own priority.
Take Action
Avoid choice overload the next time you need to buy something:
This Byte has been authored by
Phuong Pham
Learning Experience Designer
MA in Education