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Ever made a big decision only to second-guess yourself later? You're not alone. The truth is, we all carry hidden biases that cloud our judgment when we're under pressure. But there's a powerful, paper-and-pencil method that can change everything: the pre-mortem and regret score framework. This simple routine helps you make better decisions and feel genuinely confident about your choices.
Write a Pre-Mortem
Start by naming your decision and writing a one-line goal. Then comes the clever part: imagine your decision has already gone badly. Really picture it. Now, grab a pen and list the top three reasons why it failed.
This might feel pessimistic, but it's actually brilliant. A pre-mortem surfaces the risks you'd otherwise ignore when you're excited or rushed. By stepping into the future and looking back, you bypass the optimism bias that makes us overlook potential problems. You're not being negative—you're being realistic.
Set Your Guardrails
Now that you've identified potential pitfalls, it's time to create your decision framework. This step turns vague gut feelings into clear, actionable criteria:
- Must-haves: The non-negotiables. What absolutely has to be true for this decision to work?
- Nice-to-haves: The bonus features that would be great but aren't essential.
- Deal-breakers: The red lines you won't cross, no matter what.
Don't stop there. Add exit rules too: 'I'll reconsider if X happens within the first month.' These guardrails give you permission to change course without feeling like you've failed. They're your safety net.
Score Your Regret
Here's where it gets really interesting. Before you commit, write down a number from 0 to 10 that represents your expected regret if this decision doesn't work out. Be honest—no one else needs to see this.
Then, briefly explain why you chose that number. This simple act of quantifying your feelings does something remarkable: it makes your emotional landscape visible. You're creating a baseline that Future You can compare against reality. Over time, you'll start noticing patterns in when you overestimate or underestimate regret, and that insight is gold.
Schedule a Check-In
The final step is deceptively simple but incredibly powerful. Set a calendar reminder for one month from now with a single task: review your actual regret and compare it to your prediction.
This isn't about beating yourself up if you got it wrong. It's about learning your personal bias patterns. Maybe you always catastrophise. Maybe you're overly optimistic. Maybe certain types of decisions trip you up more than others. Each review is a mini-masterclass in understanding how your mind works under pressure. Fun fact: Future You is terrible at returning your texts—so leave them a regret score instead.
Building Mental Clarity for Better Choices
When you practise this four-step framework regularly, decision-making transforms from a source of anxiety into a skill you can refine. You'll feel calmer, clearer, and more in control—even when the stakes are high.
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