Simplicity wins! Applying Occam’s razor to everyday decisions.

Do you ever find that some decisions are easy to make, while others take forever? In a world saturated with information and complexity, the journey to achieving decision-making clarity can seem elusive.  We may have to look back several centuries for some insight.

A 14th century friar William of Ockham was said to have stated that if you have two competing ideas to explain the same phenomenon, you should prefer the simpler one. This idea became known as “Occam’s razor.” 

While Occam’s razor applies well when determining the causes of observations in science and medicine, it can also help work through decisions in every day life. When faced with multiple explanations or choices, the simplest one is often the correct one. 

People struggle to make a decision when given too many choices, and too many options overwhelm. 

I found an interesting visual comparison between stores in two geographies. One was a toothpaste aisle in a large retailer in the northeastern U.S. If you knew nothing about toothpaste, staring at this shelf alone would be overwhelming if you were trying to find the best dental product for your needs. 

The other was a small local market on the island of Rapa Nui (Eastern Island), one of the most isolated locations within the Pacific. I was told that there was only one option for many products, making decision-making easy but the power of choice non-existent. Everyone gets the same thing until the supply runs out and the ship comes back into port the following week to refill the shelves. 

An ideal number of choices for efficient decision-making varies. Research suggests around 3 to 5 options is often effective. This range allows for a manageable selection without overwhelming individuals. Too few options like on Rapa Nui limit choice, while too many choices online or in large stores leads to decision fatigue and dissatisfaction. 

But if so many types of the same service or product exist, how do I make a decision?

• Clarify Goals: Clearly define your objectives to avoid unnecessary steps or choices that deviate from your intended outcome. 
• Prioritize Information: Focus on essential details and disregard unnecessary complexities when gathering information for decisions. Look to user ratings online. While you will most certainly have both 5-star and 1-star reviews for many products, you can quickly spot trends for better or worse options with more positive or negative comments in a certain direction. 
• Evaluate Options: When faced with choices, opt for the one that requires fewer assumptions. 
• Learn from Experience: Consider past experiences where simpler approaches proved effective and apply those lessons to current decision-making. Look to YouTube videos for others’ recommendations and user experiences to help us trim down seemingly endless options. Filtering through diverse options becomes more manageable when guided by the distilled wisdom of others. 
• Listen to Intuition: Trust your instincts. If a simpler option feels right and aligns with your intuition, it may be the most suitable choice. Rely on brands that you have been happy with in the past. A brand exists to provide a consistent experience to its users and followers. Assess the time and effort required for each option and choose the one that streamlines the process.  

• Avoid Overthinking: Choose the simplest explanation or solution that aligns with the available facts. An audience, hearing an idea for the first time, may miss most of what’s being said. “Sticky” ideas are simple and relevant. 
• Seek Simplicity in Solutions: Look for straightforward solutions that address the core issue without unnecessary complications. It’s essential to avoid the “curse of knowledge” where we want to explain everything we know, sometimes subconsciously, in one presentation. Simplifying content, focusing on key messages, and avoiding unnecessary details prevent overwhelming your audience. Just as Occam’s Razor streamlines choices, a clear and straightforward presentation enhances understanding and engagement. 
• Embrace Minimalism: Adopt a minimalist mindset in your design. Strive for elegance and efficiency in your choices. Create only what you need, no more. 

“Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.” – Albert Einstein

This quote, attributed to Albert Einstein, is helpful statement encouraging us to make a subject as easy as possible to understand though not so easy that it becomes meaningless. There is a risk of oversimplifying, so we must find that balance.

We cannot solve problems with the same thinking that was used when they were created. Anyone can make things more complex; the challenge is to remove confusion by moving in the opposite direction. Simplicity often seems to follow complexity in this way.

“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

In a world inundated with information, embracing simplicity as advocated by Occam’s razor, becomes a powerful tool for effective decision-making and design. Simplicity often leads to quicker decisions and better choices.