Seriously...there's better ones out there

Lets just start by saying....I just learned that "Netflix and chill" is code.  Y'all don't really want to watch netflix.  But let's face it, you aren't watching "netflix".  Netflix is the application that allows you to watch anything else.

In todays america, we have an abundance of choices.  This is a great!  Right?  Some researchers, and myself, say no.  It's not great.  As much as it is.  Think about TV, 30 years ago.  There were 4-5 stations maybe.  And before that, radio.  And even before that, print.  But lets go back to TV.  You flipped through those 4-5 channels trying to decide which program you wanted to watch.  When you decided, you left the console and went back to your chair.  That's right...no remotes.  You had a great feeling that you wanted to watch the show you picked.  And you were satisfied.

Flash forward 30 years.  We have thousands of cable tv shows, tens of thousands of netflix, hulu, amazon shows and movies, hundreds of thousands of youtube videos and millions of media files on the internet.  And we can access it all from our chair via a remote or device that sits on our lap.  Speaking of that.  You can have your tv, laptop, iPad, or phone right there too.  So which one do you use?  And while you are watching on your tv, you are probably surfing Facebook or twitter on your phone.  If you even pick a program, you wonder....was this the best choice?  And you may not ever be fully satisfied with what you are watching.  And even if you are, when that series is over....right on to the next one!

It even happens in the clothing department.  Why can't there be just one type of underwear.  Lets not get started on socks.  But what about Jeans.  Do I want regular, regular loose, loose regular, slim, slim loose, loose regular slim boot cut, slim boot relaxed, low hang relaxed regular long...????  Even if you decide on a pair...you'll never know if there is another pair that fit a little bit better.

Don't even get me started on paint colors.  And how about the massive amounts of beer at the beer store?  Or wines at the wine store?  Trying to find a partner with all those fish in the sea?   Yeah...choices are everywhere.  Amazon doesn't help.  Thirty eight different kids of (insert item here).  Thankfully we have some reviews!

What's the problem?  Research suggests that all these choices may not be good for us.  All these choices don't always result in a great decision...but rather thoughts of a missed opportunity.  If you are thinking about 5 missed opportunities a day, it can be draining.   And being happy with your choice.  As hard as it is to decide, it's that much harder to remain happy with your choice knowing there might be something out there better.  Do you know how many times I've watch the first 2-3 minutes of a netflix program and looked for something else?  A LOT of times!  Being able to just quit one of these choices doesn't produce good behavior patterns.  Oh well, just quit that thing.  There's something better.  Rather than trusting your decision making skills, you quit and try something else.

Now...you say it's fine to quit a show and switch to another one.  It's just a show.  But all those decision making practices don't help to produce good decision making skills.

Don't believe me?   Next time you try to decide where to go out to eat...see what happens.  Want to make it worse....try deciding for a group.

I'm sorry...the only advice I have is to stop giving yourself so many options.  Or choose to commit to a choice and stop thinking about all the other things you could have had.  Buy or choose what you want the first time.  Don't second guess.  Decide to like what you choose.  And if after you are finished with the show...decide if you want to give it a good review or not.  Same with products.

Barry Schwartz has a great  TED talk on the Paradox of Choice. Give it a listen! It's pretty mind blowing!