Happy New Year! If decision-making tends to turn into overthinking, you’re not alone. In this episode, we share a good-enough approach to easier decision-making—plus the maximizer vs. satisficer mindset and our “rule of three.”

Shannon shares her word of the year for 2026: choose—a reminder to make decisions on purpose instead of feeling swept along. We also dig into the difference between being a maximizer (always trying to make the best choice) and a satisficer (making a good enough choice and moving on), plus a few practical ways to stop the endless research spiral.

Along the way, Janine shares a big decision she made on her personal retreat: retiring her blog Organize Your Family History—and the surprisingly overwhelming chain of choices that followed.

1. 01:25 Looking back at 2025 and asking: what do we want 2026 to look like?
2. 02:16 Word of the year as an anchor (and why “survive” doesn’t feel great)
3. 03:06 Shannon’s word for 2026: choose (making decisions on purpose)
4. 04:33 Maximizer vs. satisficer: why decision-making can feel so hard
5. 06:43 Too many options = no decision (hello, Amazon overwhelm)
6. 09:52 Janine’s personal retreat + deciding to retire Organize Your Family History
7. 11:52 Writing it down + talking it through (pros/cons, getting support)
8. 12:40 The “rule of three”: choose up to three criteria (and/or options) and stop researching
9. 16:28 “Just in case” thinking: flexibility vs. clutter (and the hidden cost of keeping things)
10. 20:35 Making “for now” decisions with a time frame so you can stop thinking about it

1. Choosing on purpose can feel energizing. It’s a way to be more active in your life instead of always reacting.
2. Maximizers often get stuck. If you’re trying to find the “best” option, decision-making can become exhausting (and sometimes you don’t decide at all).
3. Satisficing is very “good enough.” Pick a few criteria that matter, choose something that meets them, and move on.
4. Try the rule of three. Limit yourself to three criteria and/or three options to reduce overwhelm.
5. Open loops cost energy. Not deciding can keep a decision quietly draining your attention.
6. A time-bound decision can create flexibility without constant rethinking. Decide “for now,” set a revisit date, and let your brain rest.

The next time you’re stuck in a decision spiral (especially for something low-consequence):

1. Write down up to three criteria that actually matter.
2. Look at up to three options.
3. Choose the first option that meets your criteria—and stop researching.

1. Episode 102: The Good Enough Decision We talk about why decision-making can feel extra hard for perfectionists, and how the maximizer vs. satisficer mindset shows up in real life. If you liked our conversation about choosing “for now” and saving your energy for what matters, this one is a great companion.
2. Episode 103: Dealing with Imperfectionists An exploration about what happens when a maximizer and a...