The solution isn't to retreat to a cave or join a monastery (though the appeal is understandable). We can't turn back the clock to Robert's 1955 simplicity. The modern world isn't going to offer fewer choices—if anything, options will continue multiplying.
But we can learn to navigate this world differently. We can build systems that handle trivial decisions automatically. We can batch similar choices to preserve mental energy. We can create frameworks that make good decisions faster. We can learn when good enough truly is good enough.
Most importantly, we can reclaim our cognitive resources for the decisions that actually matter: how to spend our time, who to love, what to create, how to contribute, which dreams to pursue.
The choice overload crisis is real, but it's not insurmountable. In the following chapters, you'll learn specific strategies to cut through the noise and focus on what matters. You'll meet people who've successfully implemented these systems and transformed their lives.
But first, we need to understand the simple science of why decision fatigue happens. Once you grasp the basic mechanics, the solutions become obvious—and implementing them becomes inevitable.