I’ll be the first to admit that, as a decision scientist, I’ve spent years encouraging people to approach decisions with intention and deliberation. You probably have been taught the same way. Think carefully, evaluate all options and risks, and don’t rush. It sounds sensible, and usually it is. Yet sometimes we see a confounding experience—those choices they agonized over most are often the ones they later regret.

This is not to say that thorough thinkers make poor choices. It's that extended deliberations can subtly change how your decisions are experienced in that moment and how they are remembered and reprocessed later. In certain instances, thinking longer isn’t protective; it’s harmful and creates regret. Think about some big choice you have recently made. Entering into a new relationship, purchasing a new house, or changing jobs. How long did you ponder your choice?

Haste makes waste. That’s a common phrase that reminds us not to rush important decisions. Faced with a big choice, people often believe that more analysis will lead to peace of mind. But this can lead to inaction, as many of us are horrified at the prospect of making the wrong decision, and we might regret it if we rush through the process. Psychological research, however, suggests that regret is not driven solely by the quality of the outcome.........

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