Mind · Making decisions
A pros-and-cons list that works
For a big choice, write down exactly what you're deciding, list every real option, and rank them by what matters most to you. Then imagine it's a year later and the choice went badly, and fix what that shows you. Anyone who demands an answer right now is a warning sign, not a reason to hurry.
You'll need
- Paper or a notes app
- A quiet half hour
- One person you trust to talk it through with
What to know
- Name the decision in one sentence. UMass Dartmouth's decision guide says this first step is very important: define clearly what you have to decide. Source: UMass Dartmouth1 "Should I take the job across town?" is clearer than "What do I do with my life?"
- Gather information from inside and outside. Some of it comes from asking yourself what you want and value; some comes from websites, books and other people. Source: UMass Dartmouth1 Write down what you still don't know.
- List every option, not just two. As you collect information, more paths usually show up, and you can invent new ones or combine them. Source: UMass Dartmouth1 "Take it," "don't take it" and "ask to start part-time" are three options.
- Pick the three to five things that matter most to you (pay, time, people, cost, stress) and give each a weight from 1 to 3. This scoring method is our rule of thumb, not a study; the point is to make your priorities visible. See the example table below.
- Play each option forward. Picture actually living with each choice all the way through, and ask whether it solves the problem you named in step 1. Use both your information and your feelings, then rank the options by your own values. Source: UMass Dartmouth1
- Run a pre-mortem on your top choice. Imagine it's later and the choice has failed, then write down every plausible reason why. Source: Harvard Bus. Review2 Johns Hopkins' version of the exercise gives each person 10 minutes to write reasons on their own, then turns the list into plans to prevent those failures. Source: Johns Hopkins3
- Fix what the pre-mortem found. If the reason it fails is "the commute wore me down," check the bus route or test the drive at rush hour before you commit.
- Choose, and act. Your choice will often be the option at the top of your ranked list, and it can be a combination of options. Source: UMass Dartmouth1 Then take the first real step. Source: UMass Dartmouth1
- Review it later. Check whether the decision solved the need you started with. If it didn't, go back, gather different information or look at more options, and decide again. Source: UMass Dartmouth1
Scoring two options (made-up example)
Weight each factor 1 to 3, score each option 1 to 5, then multiply and add. The numbers are made up.
| What matters (weight) | Job near home | Job with higher pay |
|---|---|---|
| Pay (3) | 3 × 3 = 9 | 5 × 3 = 15 |
| Commute time (2) | 5 × 2 = 10 | 2 × 2 = 4 |
| Chance to learn (2) | 3 × 2 = 6 | 4 × 2 = 8 |
| Schedule fits school (3) | 5 × 3 = 15 | 2 × 3 = 6 |
| Total | 40 | 33 |
A close total means the decision is close. That's when the pre-mortem matters most.
Pre-mortem in 10 minutes
- Say it out loud: "It's a year from now, and this went badly. What happened?" Hopkins' version sets the scene two years ahead. Source: Johns Hopkins3
- Write for 10 minutes without stopping, on your own. Source: Johns Hopkins3
- Circle the two or three reasons that are most likely.
- For each one, write what you'll do to prevent it. Source: Johns Hopkins3
See it done
Video by TED-Ed Nonprofit
How to make smart decisions more easily
2023 · Checked October 3, 2026
This one's about why choices get harder when you're worn out. Make big decisions when you're rested, then use the list above.
Video won't load at school or work? No problem. Everything you need is in the steps; the video's just a bonus. Watch it on YouTube later.
If it doesn't work
- Two options feel tied? Look for a combination of them, which counts as a real choice. Source: UMass Dartmouth1
- Still stuck? You may be missing information. Go back to step 2 for more detailed or different facts, or explore more options. Source: UMass Dartmouth1
- Someone is pushing you to pay or share personal information right now? Walk away. Anyone who does that is a scammer, says the FTC. Source: FTC4
- The scores say one thing and your gut says another? Ask which weight feels wrong, change it, and score again. That gap often tells you what you really care about.
Good to know
The details, if you want them. Tap a line to open it.
Why imagining failure helps
Gary Klein, who created the pre-mortem, wrote that plans often fail partly because people won't voice their doubts while planning. Assuming failure up front makes it safe to say what worries you. Source: Harvard Bus. Review2
Feelings are information
UMass Dartmouth's guide tells you to draw on both your information and your emotions when you weigh options. Source: UMass Dartmouth1 A list doesn't replace your judgment; it shows you what your judgment is based on.
Take it with you
Printable cardDownload card (PDF)Sources
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Decision-making process
- Harvard Business Review Commercial publisher: business magazine Performing a project premortem (Gary Klein, 2007)
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, Armstrong Institute Premortem tool with how-to guide (PDF)
- Federal Trade Commission How to avoid a scam
Lesson C4.1 · Last checked October 3, 2026 against the sources listed.
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