Revealed: The everyday decisions Brits find the hardest to make

• Choosing what to cook for dinner is the hardest decision for Brits to make  
• 28% of people would let someone else make a small decision for them
• Life coach reveals why decision making can be difficult and how to help   

Choosing what to cook for dinner has taken the top spot as the UK’s hardest everyday decision to make, with over a third (37%) of Brits struggling to decide.   

A recent poll, commissioned by leading slots and online games brand, Gala Spins, to uncover the nation’s decision-making habits has shown that no matter how big or small a decision, from what film to watch to where to go on holiday, considering all the different options can leave Brits stuck and wishing someone else would choose for them.  

Top five everyday decisions Brits find the hardest to make:  

1.       What to cook for dinner (37% struggle with this)  

2.       Where to go on holiday (26%)  

3.       Choosing a film to watch (25%)  

4.       What to wear (25%)  

5.       What to eat from a menu (23%)  

Choosing a holiday destination came in at second place, while choosing a film came in a close third.  

Although many of the cities agreed on the number one hardest decision, the people of Belfast (55%) and Bristol (35%) opted for choosing what film to watch as the hardest decision.   

It was also revealed that women are twice as likely to find deciding what to wear more difficult than men.  

When making decisions, over a third (38%) of people would always want to make the decision themselves, while 28% of people would only let someone else decide if it was small. More than one in ten (12%) 18–34s are also more than twice as likely as older Brits aged 55-64 to let someone else make a big decision for them.  

The main reason making decisions can be so hard is due to the decision-making process itself that can be complex, as well as many additional factors that make it difficult, such as the fear of missing out, the desire to minimize regret, and the general cognitive demands of the decision-making process.¹  

Dr Mariette Jansen, a life coach, said: “Making a decision is always a big thing for some people. It doesn’t matter what the decision is about, it is about what the decision represents. A decision is a powerful act of confidence, speaking up and speaking out, excluding options, having an opinion and taking a stance, and that might evoke a reaction or a confrontation. 

“Fear is the emotion that is behind indecisiveness. People pleasers are always worried about what other people will say. A perfectionist will always worry that they might miss out on something better. An insecure person will always fear they got it wrong and will be confronted. 

“To become a better decision maker and improve your decision-making process, you need to discover the underlying fear that makes it hard to make a decision, and challenge that fear to improve your decision-making ability.” 

Karina Adrian, Head of Brand Marketing and Partnerships at Gala Spins, said: “We all know making everyday decisions can be tough and not knowing what option to choose can limit you. Each one of us is unique, and although it can be difficult to take that first step, making these decisions can lead to new experiences and help us discover things we didn’t know we liked.  

“We wanted to highlight that by repeatedly making the same choices you ultimately stop yourself from ever trying something new and we want to encourage people to look at decision making differently to bring them new experiences.”  

For more information on Gala Spins, visit: https://www.galaspins.com/