Less is More: Limiting Choices for Greater Well-being
College often represents a newfound sense of freedom, where students face a wide range of choices—sometimes for the first time. Questions like “Where should I live?”, “What should I wear?”, or “What should I do today?” may seem simple, but the overwhelming number of options can make them difficult to answer. In a world with so many options, the challenge lies not just in making the “best” choice but in feeling satisfied with that decision.
Researchers believe that overwhelming choice is a contributing factor to depression (Schwartz, 2004). Although having no options can be equally detrimental, there is a psychological toll in constantly sifting through numerous possibilities to find the “best” one. Why would this be true? When given too many choices, people may feel disappointed about the possible opportunities they did not get to experience. The more choices available, the more regret individuals tend to experience. As a result, pursuing the “best” option often leads to disappointment—especially when the expected happiness doesn’t materialize with the “best” choice.
