How to Make Smarter Decisions
Decision fatigue is real—especially when everything on your list feels equally important.
I was recently on a college tour with my daughter and was finding it hard to choose her priorities. I remembered a decision-making framework that I have often used in the past but had forgotten.
Whether you’re choosing a college, a career move, or a big life transition, clarity often comes from prioritization.
As my daughter listed out what she wanted in a college—urban location, public transit, size—it became clear that listing isn’t enough. The key? Rank those priorities.
Start by assigning each item a unique score on a scale from 1 to 10 based on its importance—no ties allowed. This forces you to distinguish what truly matters most.
Once you have your rank-ordered list, you can then score your options (e.g., colleges, jobs, opportunities) against each criterion. Multiply each score by its importance rating and add up the totals to see which option comes out on top.
This simple but effective prioritization tool helps separate emotional desires from critical needs and supports more confident, clear-headed choices.
Read More: ONE Thing You Should Know When Making a Choice
