Finally, Someone Else Can Make the Hard Choices!
Okay but seriously… am I literally the only person who gets completely stuck on the dumbest yes or no decisions? Like I’m talking about standing in Target for twenty-seven minutes (yes I timed myself, don’t judge) trying to decide if I should buy this throw pillow that’s kinda cute but also do I really NEED another pillow? My couch already has four! But this one has little tacos on it and it’s only twelve bucks and…
This is exactly why I’ve become totally obsessed with using random yes or no questions to make decisions for me. You can try a random decision maker yourself to see what I mean. I KNOW how it sounds – super weird, maybe irresponsible, definitely not what my mom taught me about “thinking things through carefully.” But honestly? Sometimes you just need the universe to step in and make the call because your brain is too fried to function like a normal human being.
Like last week I spent THREE HOURS trying to decide whether to go to my college roommate Sarah’s birthday party. She lives in frickin’ Portland now, I’d have to drive two hours each way, get a hotel room (expensive), buy a gift (more expensive)… So I’m texting my other friends like “what should I do” and making actual pros and cons lists like some kind of psychopath until finally I just grabbed a quarter and was like “heads I go, tails I stay home.”
Heads. Went to Portland. Had the BEST time, stayed up until 3 AM giggling about college drama, remembered why Sarah’s my person. Sometimes random yes or no questions are way smarter than our stupid overthinking brains, you know?
Why We’re All Apparently Terrible at Simple Decisions
So here’s my completely unscientific theory about why we suck at this stuff. Your brain treats literally every decision like it’s this massive life-changing moment, even when it’s just “should I get Starbucks or make coffee at home?” Suddenly you’re considering your monthly budget, your caffeine addiction, whether Emma the barista will think you’re pathetic for coming in four days in a row…
It’s like decision fatigue but specifically for yes/no stuff that SHOULD be easy! You’ve already made probably a thousand tiny choices today – hit snooze or actually get up (snooze, obviously), shower first or brush teeth first, wear the black shirt or the navy one. By the time you hit another yes/no choice your brain just goes “NOPE, cannot process one more thing today, we’re DONE.”
Plus we put this insane pressure on ourselves to make the “perfect” choice. But honestly? Most random yes or no questions don’t HAVE a perfect answer. They just have AN answer, and literally any answer is better than being stuck in analysis paralysis forever while your coffee gets cold.
Me and Katie were supposed to go to this outdoor music thing last summer. Weather looked questionable, tickets were like sixty bucks each… spent the ENTIRE WEEK going back and forth about whether to go. Day of the concert comes and we STILL hadn’t decided! Missed the whole thing completely because we couldn’t just pick yes or no. That’s when I realized random yes or no questions might actually be genius.
How This Random Yes or No Question Thing Actually Works
The magic happens when you completely remove yourself from the decision-making process. Instead of trying to predict every possible outcome and basically become a fortune teller (spoiler alert: impossible and exhausting), you just ask the question and let pure chance decide. It’s weirdly freeing once you stop fighting it.
When you’re stuck on a yes/no choice, you’re usually stuck because both options seem equally valid, right? Like “should I take that yoga class that Jennifer keeps raving about?” Taking it could be amazing for your stress levels, but it’s also money and time and what if everyone’s super advanced and I can’t even touch my toes…
When random yes or no questions make the choice for you, suddenly you’re not responsible for predicting the future. You just go with whatever comes up and see what happens. And honestly? It works out fine like 90% of the time because you were already torn between two reasonable options anyway.
I started using random yes or no questions for everything. “Should I dye my hair that rose gold color?” (Yes, looked terrible, whatever, hair grows.) “Should I apply for that scary marketing job I’m probably not qualified for?” (Yes, didn’t get it but the interview was great practice.) “Should I adopt that weird-looking rescue dog with one ear?” (Yes, best decision ever, Mr. Pickles is currently snoring on my foot.)
The Weird Psychology Behind Why This Actually Works
There’s this really cool thing that happens when you use random yes or no questions – you often figure out what you actually wanted all along. Like you flip the coin, it says “no,” and you immediately feel either super relieved or completely disappointed. That gut reaction tells you WAY more about your real feelings than hours of logical analysis ever could.
I remember asking “should I quit my soul-sucking retail job” and when the random answer came back “no,” I felt this immediate wave of disappointment mixed with panic. Like wait, what? NO? But I HATE it there! That’s when I realized I’d been hoping for permission to quit, not actually looking for objective advice.
Best Times to Use Random Yes or No Questions
Obviously don’t use this for huge life stuff – probably don’t spin a wheel to decide “should I marry Brad” or “should I drop out of college.” But for everyday decisions that are keeping you stuck in that awful indecision spiral? Perfect.
Low-stakes social stuff is ideal for random yes or no questions. “Should I go to Rebecca’s housewarming party where I’ll only know her and her boyfriend?” “Should I finally text that cute barista who drew a heart in my latte foam?” These are exactly the kind of choices where overthinking doesn’t help and taking action usually leads to interesting experiences.
Random yes or no questions are also perfect for breaking boring routines. “Should I take the scenic route to work instead of the highway?” “Should I finally try that kickboxing class I’ve been stalking on Instagram?” Sometimes you need external permission to do something different.
And honestly? They’re lifesavers when you’re stuck between two equally appealing options. Like when you’re scrolling Netflix for forty-five minutes because you can’t choose between three shows that all look interesting. Random yes or no questions cut through the paralysis and get you moving again.
What to Do When You Hate the Random Answer
Here’s the thing about random yes or no questions though – you totally don’t have to follow the answer if it genuinely feels wrong! The point isn’t letting a spinning wheel control your entire existence. It’s breaking through decision paralysis and maybe discovering what you actually want deep down.
If you get a “yes” and feel excited, awesome! If you get a “no” and feel relieved, also awesome! But if you get an answer and immediately want to ignore it or ask again, that’s actually super valuable information. Maybe you weren’t as neutral about the choice as you thought you were.
Random yes or no questions are tools, not commandments from the universe. Use them to explore possibilities, break through indecision, understand your own preferences better. But you’re still the one actually in charge of your life, spinning wheel or no spinning wheel.
Making Random Decisions Way More Fun
One thing I absolutely love about using random yes or no questions is how it turns boring decisions into these little adventures. Instead of dreading choices, you start looking forward to seeing what weird thing the universe has planned for you next.
According to research from Psychology Today, people who struggle with decision-making often have perfectionist tendencies and this intense fear of making the “wrong” choice. Random yes or no questions help break that perfectionist cycle by completely removing the pressure to find the optimal answer.
The stories you get from random decisions are usually way more interesting than carefully planned stuff. When someone asks how you ended up learning aerial silks or making sourdough bread, “a spinner wheel told me to” is definitely more entertaining than “I researched it extensively and made a detailed pros and cons spreadsheet.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I really make important life decisions using random yes or no questions?
God no! This is for the smaller stuff that’s keeping you stuck or fun choices where both options seem equally good. Don’t use random yes or no questions for major life decisions like relationships, career moves, or spending your entire savings on something.
What if I keep getting answers I don’t want from random yes or no questions?
That’s actually incredibly valuable information! If you keep hoping for “yes” but getting “no,” maybe you need to examine why you’re not just choosing yes yourself. Your reaction to the answer tells you everything.
Is it weird to make decisions this way?
Maybe a little, but honestly who cares? Most people spend way too much time overthinking simple choices anyway. At least random yes or no questions get you unstuck and moving forward instead of paralyzed by analysis.
How do I know if a decision is too big for random yes or no questions?
If the potential consequences would seriously mess up your life, finances, relationships, or well-being, probably think it through properly instead. Use your actual brain for the important stuff.
What if the random answer seems obviously wrong for my situation?
Trust your gut! If you get “yes, dye your hair neon green” but you have a job interview tomorrow, obviously don’t do it. Random yes or no questions are meant to help with decisions where both options seem reasonable, not override basic common sense.