We’ve all been there: you’re about to make a decision, but somehow the more you research, the harder it becomes to choose.
Perhaps it’s picking a tech stack, or even something as simple as what to eat for lunch. Whatever it is, you keep digging, comparing, and second-guessing.
If that sounds familiar, you’ve likely run into FOBO – the Fear of a Better Option. Research shows that having too many options can make decisions harder. Instead of feeling clearer, people often get stuck comparing alternatives and postponing action.
The acronym was coined by Patrick McGinnis, the same person who coined FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out. While FOMO is about missing out on something exciting, FOBO is about missing out on something better.
And not only do we feel stuck, but this has an impact on our mental health. People who try to find the perfect option tend to experience more stress, indecision and regret than people who simply look for a solution that is good enough.
With endless options available today, that pressure increases. Even after you make a choice, your mind may go back to compare, replay, and wonder what you might have missed. Social media, online shopping, and dating apps all amplify this effect by constantly showing more options and possibilities
And that’s why learning to recognize this pattern becomes powerful. Once you see FOBO happening, you can start shifting how you choose and reclaim both your time and mental energy.
The most effective approaches target the behavior directly, helping you cut through the noise and make decisions with confidence. Here are four techniques that work whether you’re facing a major choice or just trying to pick lunch:
• Recognize the signs. Start noticing when you drift into unnecessary comparison. If you catch yourself researching far longer than the decision deserves, that’s a sign you’re slipping into FOBO. Simply naming the pattern helps you interrupt it and regain focus.
• Externalize small decisions. For low-stakes choices, try removing yourself from the center of the decision. Turn it into a yes/no question and look at the time: odd number for yes, even for no. It breaks the belief that every choice needs to be optimal, and frees mental energy for decisions that truly matter.
• Systematize big choices. When the decision is meaningful, use simple scaffolding to guide you. A method like the DECIDE framework keeps you grounded: define the problem, set your criteria, briefly review alternatives, identify your choice, make a plan, and evaluate afterward.
Most importantly, experiment with “good enough” decisions in your daily life by choosing the first reasonable option and seeing what happens. Whether it’s lunch, an outfit, or a tool that meets your minimum criteria – you will train your brain to see that FOBO isn’t worth it.
Most decisions won’t define your entire future, and waiting for absolute confidence often costs more than it saves. Practice making the best choice available now, take action, and learn from the result, just like a scientist. That’s how you turn your life into a giant laboratory.
Tiny Experiment of the Week
Ready to put these ideas into practice? Try this tiny experiment to help you let go of FOBO:
I will [check the time for one small decision each day] for [5 days].
Remember: an odd number like 11:13 means yes, an even number like 12:36 means no. Want to dig deeper into designing your own tiny experiments? Get your copy of the book.