24 ways to stop making horrible decisions (and start making better ones)

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fork road split diverge

Geograph via Google Images

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...and I enlisted these scientifically tested strategies to make a rational decision.

Every day, we're faced with an endless onslaught of decisions, from the trivial (marinara vs. pesto) to extremely important (should you quit your job?).

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Too often we simply go with our gut and do what "feels right." And that's not always a bad move.

But there's a problem with that strategy: feelings leave us open to a variety of behavioral and psychological biases - biases that affect the way we think and lead us to make the wrong choices.

By being aware of the tendencies that lead us down the wrong path - and considering some techniques to maximize the chances of finding the right one - we can make better, more rational decisions. There may not be a way to guarantee the future (yet), but these 24 decision-making tips could be the next best thing.

Max Nisen and Aimee Groth contributed to an earlier version of this article.

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