Paralyzed By Choice (and Why That's Okay)

I’ll be honest, I've been totally overwhelmed by what to write about first, so naturally, I’ve been procrastinating. The trouble with deciding to start this blog seven months into our journey is figuring out where to begin. Every place we’ve visited has been so layered, vibrant colors, rich culture, unforgettable food, nature that stops you in your tracks, and the tiniest discoveries hidden in the middle of chaotic cities. Even trying to batch posts into something like “Colors of Tokyo” feels like it could turn into a novel. So I’ve decided that’s exactly where I’ll start, with the feeling of too much and not knowing how to begin.

Being paralyzed by choice is something so many of us wrestle with, whether it's travel, design, or even deciding what to eat for dinner. There’s actually a well-known study that illustrates this idea beautifully. In 2000, psychologists Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper found that when people were presented with 24 kinds of jam, only 3% made a purchase, but when shown just 6 options, 30% did. More options attracted attention, but fewer led to action. (Read the study here)

As a designer, the blank canvas with total freedom can be the most daunting place to begin. And when it comes to travel, having the whole world open to explore feels exactly the same.

Just this morning, we were trying to plan our next adventure, South America. And of course, the spiral begins, where to go? But just like in design, once you start, the choices slowly start to shape a direction.

For us, staying in a similar time zone to the U.S. was a key factor, so South America rose to the top. From there, we started narrowing down based on a few practical (and inspiring) filters:

• What’s the weather like, and are we avoiding hurricane season?

• Which places have reliable internet (non-negotiable for remote work)?

• What’s the most cost-effective route for flights?

• What’s our budget for accommodations?

• What do we actually want to see?

• Do we want beaches, mountains, or cities?

• Are places walkable, or is a rental needed?

Whether you're planning your next trip or sketching your next design concept, the process is the same: start messy. List out what matters. Each question will help shape the path forward. And if your destination or design shifts halfway through, that’s part of the fun. The beauty of ideation is the exploration. The ideas that don’t quite fit now might just be the starting point for the next project or trip.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options in front of you, flip it. See it as an invitation to start brainstorming. The magic is in the discovery.

Now that I’ve talked myself out of decision-paralysis, it’s time to get planning, and maybe even start writing that Colors of Tokyo post.