2025-12-04: Choice overload · Daru Strong Club

2025-12-04: Choice overload

Having some choices is good because it gives us autonomy and flexibility. But research shows that beyond a certain point, more options can lead to confusion, regret, paralysis, and lower satisfaction. In an experiment by Iyengar & Lepper (2000), shoppers offered 24 different jams were far less likely to make a purchase than those offered only 6 options.

There is also a scientific review of 99 observations which concluded that larger choice sets produce choice overload. This overload leads to lower satisfaction, more regret, indecision, and decreased confidence in the choices we make (Choice Overload: A Conceptual Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2015, Vol. 25, p. 333-358).

I encountered this problem when I started going to the gym in September. There are hundreds of training programs on Daru’s channel alone. And this wealth of choice is depressing and burdensome. I couldn’t choose, so I combined my own program from three or maybe five different ones. But I wasn’t sure if it was actually good. So even while following it, I felt doubtful and dissatisfied with myself. Maybe I’m hurting my results because I chose the wrong program?

I think many people quit the gym, or never start at all, for this exact reason. They’re afraid of making the wrong choice - choosing the wrong gym, the wrong coach, the wrong program. The fear of choosing “incorrectly” becomes a reason not to choose at all.

Finding the Hybrid S&C Program by Phil Daru through this community helped me a lot. I liked the program, and I trust Phil’s expertise. It brought me real relief. I’m confident that I made a good choice, and I’ve limited the endless alternatives to just one program. I also accepted the opportunity cost: yes, there may be a “better” program out there that could give me slightly better results. But I don’t want to waste time and energy searching endlessly for it.

So I decided to stop chasing what seems optimal and focus on what is good enough and proven. The Hybrid S&C Program lasts 8 weeks. After that, I’ll be able to reevaluate my goals, needs, and progress. And I hope that by then, I’ll have a better understanding of my body so that I can choose the next program with more confidence.

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