Why people usually make the easy decision

The basic problem

People want to save energy, and that influences their decisions considerably.

This holds for the body and just as much for thinking. A decision that demands little effort is preferred.

It shows in small things: someone reaches for the familiar provider, the usual solution or the colleague’s suggestion, because that takes the least effort. The brain works with shortcuts. The brain prefers what yields a lot for little effort and holds on to what is familiar.

The easy decision

An easy decision is not a bad one. An easy decision, however, usually holds less, because it is made without a foundation. This decision saves energy today and costs later, when it has to be reconsidered, corrected or made again.

My stance

Energy is limited, and a person may budget it.

The key statement

Important decisions deserve the effort of looking closely once.

After that, much becomes easier, because the foundation stands and not every further decision starts from zero.

That is the thought behind a decision foundation: the effort is incurred once, and people regain energy.