Okay, so I've never considered myself an indecisive person. Not really. I mean, I know what I want for breakfast (always coffee, sometimes toast), I have opinions about movies (strong ones), and I rarely spend more than five minutes deciding what to wear (black goes with everything, right?).
But lately, I've been noticing something... concerning. The number of tabs open on my browser has gotten, well, embarrassing. Vacation rentals I'm comparing. Articles I'm reading about whether I should refinance my mortgage. Three different online courses I might take. Recipe variations for the dinner I'm hosting next weekend.
And none of these tabs were getting closed. Because decisions weren't getting made.
It's like I've developed this new habit where I research endlessly but never actually choose anything. Decision constipation. Is that a thing? If not, I'm making it one.
The Tipping Point
Last month, the whole situation came to a head when my partner asked if I wanted to go hiking or to the beach that weekend.
Simple question, right?
Cue me spending 45 minutes checking weather forecasts for both locations, texting friends who had recently done either activity, and scrolling through photos from our previous trips to both places to "remind myself of the vibe."
My partner just stared at me, coffee getting cold in their hand, completely bewildered.
"It's just a day trip," they said. "Why is this so hard?"
Good question. Excellent question, actually.
Enter the Button
That night, after finally deciding on the beach (it was lovely, thanks for asking), I fell down a Reddit rabbit hole about decision fatigue. Somewhere in the comments, someone mentioned using a yes no button to break decision paralysis.
I was... skeptical. Very skeptical. But also desperate enough to try basically anything at this point.
So I clicked through to this website called the Yes or No Button and just stared at it for a minute. It was really simple—a space to type your question and a button that says "Press to Decide."
My first question was admittedly silly: "Should I have ice cream tonight?"
I pressed the button.
A popup appeared with a big "YES" and an actual voice said it out loud, which made me laugh because I wasn't expecting it.
Well... I guess I'm having ice cream then!
As I dug into my mint chocolate chip (no regrets), I started thinking about how I could really test this thing. Could a random Yes or No generator actually improve my decision-making?
I decided—all by myself, thank you very much—to try an experiment.
The Seven-Day Challenge
For one week, I would use the button to make at least three decisions a day. Some small, some medium-sized. Nothing life-altering (I'm not completely ridiculous), but substantive enough to matter.
Here's how it went:
Day 1: The Easy Stuff
• "Should I try that new coffee shop today?" (YES) • "Should I call my mom back now or later?" (NO – later it is) • "Should I wear the blue shirt to dinner?" (YES)
Verdict: Pretty painless. The coffee shop was actually amazing—had this lavender latte I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise. And the blue shirt got compliments. Off to a good start.
Day 2: Work Decisions
• "Should I speak up in this meeting about my concerns?" (YES) • "Should I take on that extra project my boss mentioned?" (NO) • "Should I rearrange my desk today?" (YES)
Verdict: Okay, the meeting one was interesting. I probably wouldn't have said anything, but the yes no button said yes, so I voiced my thoughts—and it led to a really productive conversation! Not taking on the extra project felt right immediately. And my desk looks way better now.
Day 3: The Weird One
• "Should I text that friend I haven't talked to in months?" (YES) • "Should I try making that complicated recipe tonight?" (YES) • "Should I buy those concert tickets?" (NO)
Verdict: Mixed results. Reconnecting with my old friend was great—we're getting coffee next week. The recipe was a disaster (turns out I don't have the culinary skills the button thinks I do). The concert ticket one was hard—I felt disappointed by the "no," which actually told me something important: I really wanted to go. So I overrode the button and bought the tickets anyway. Sorry, button!
Days 4-7: Getting Braver
As the week continued, I started asking slightly bigger questions:
• "Should I sign up for that photography class?" (YES) • "Should I finally delete those dating apps?" (YES) • "Should I plan a solo weekend trip next month?" (YES) • "Should I apologize to Sam about what happened last year?" (YES)
(Apparently the Yes or No Button was in a very affirmative mood those days!)
What I Learned
After my week of button-assisted decision making, I sat down to reflect on the experience. Here's what I figured out:
1. The button isn't magic—it's a pattern interrupter
The real value wasn't in the yes or no answers. It was in breaking my cycle of overthinking. By introducing this random element, I stopped the endless research spiral and moved to action.
2. My reaction to the answer told me what I really wanted
When the button said "no" to the concert tickets and I felt disappointed, that was valuable information! Same with the relief I felt when it said not to take on that extra work project. Our emotional reactions to random decisions can be surprisingly insightful.
3. Having a scapegoat reduces anxiety
There's something freeing about being able to blame a Yes or No generator if things don't work out. "Well, the button told me to try that restaurant!" It removes some of the pressure of perfect decision-making.
4. Not all decisions are button-worthy
I found this tool works best for decisions where:
- Both options are basically fine
- You've been stuck in indecision for too long
- The stakes are relatively low to medium
- You just need a push in any direction
5. Sometimes a random push leads to surprising joy
That new coffee shop? The reconnection with an old friend? The desk rearrangement? All little bright spots in my week that might not have happened without that random push.
The Aftermath
It's been about a month since my experiment ended, and I haven't abandoned the yes no button completely. I still use it when I catch myself in that familiar overthinking spiral—like when I spent 20 minutes debating between two very similar pairs of shoes recently. (The button chose the blue ones, if you're curious.)
But more importantly, I've become more aware of when I'm slipping into decision paralysis. Sometimes I'll catch myself with fifteen tabs open and think, "Oh, here we go again." And I'll either use the button or—more frequently now—just make the decision myself.
My partner has noticed the difference too. Last weekend, when they suggested either trying a new restaurant or cooking at home, I responded within seconds: "Let's try the new place." The look of shock on their face was priceless.
Would I Recommend It?
Listen, I'm not suggesting you use a random Yes or No Button to decide who to marry or what career to pursue. That would be... not great advice.
But for breaking through that weird inertia that comes with modern life and too many options? For pushing yourself out of comfortable ruts and overthinking spirals?
Yeah, actually. I would recommend it. At worst, you'll have a funny story about that time you let a website decide what you should have for lunch. At best, you might find yourself making decisions more easily and living a slightly more spontaneous life.
And in a world where we can spend 45 minutes choosing what to watch on Netflix, a little randomness might be exactly what we need.
Have you ever tried using a random decision maker? Or do you have your own tricks for overcoming decision paralysis? I'd genuinely love to hear about them in the comments!
P.S. In case you're wondering—yes, I did use the button to decide whether to publish this post or not. Clearly, it said yes. Though honestly, I was going to override it if it said no. Some decisions you already know the answer to; you just need permission to make them.