The secret to happiness might actually be surprisingly simple: stop hunting for the absolute best and just embrace “good enough.”
In a world obsessed with optimization, “satisficers” stand out as refreshingly content individuals who make decisions with ease. Meanwhile, the rest of us drown in endless options and second-guessing.
These practical decision-makers—whose name blends “satisfy” and “suffice”—move through life with less anxiety. They seem to have a kind of peace of mind that their “maximizer” counterparts rarely enjoy. Satisficing behaviors go hand in hand with higher life satisfaction and lower stress.
Indeed, as Barry Schwartz and his colleagues found in 4 studies: “although maximizers may in general achieve better objective outcomes than satisficers (as a result of their high standards and exhaustive search and decision procedures), they are likely to experience these outcomes as worse subjectively. “
It’s not that satisficers are settling; they just see “good enough” as a smart way to save mental energy for what really matters.
Their approach leaves room for presence, connection, and maybe even a bit of joy. Sometimes, isn’t the real path to happiness about letting go of that exhausting quest for perfection?
1. You select the first option that meets your basic needs.
Life hands us a dizzying number of choices every day. From toothpaste brands to career moves, the options never seem to end. Satisficers cut through this mess with a kind of quiet confidence.
Watch a satisficer shop for a new laptop, and you’ll see what I mean. They won’t compare every model, processor, or screen spec. Instead, they figure out what they actually need—maybe just something light, with decent battery life and enough storage—and buy the first one that fits.
While maximizers wear themselves out hunting for perfection, satisficers use their energy wisely by knowing when something is already good enough. They know, almost instinctively, that chasing the “absolute best” rarely pays off.
Meeting core requirements is their green light to move forward. That way, they skip the endless comparisons and the anxiety that comes with them.
2. You spend minimal time on reviews and research.
Scroll through any product page and you’ll see thousands of reviews, charts, and “expert” takes. Satisficers have learned to dodge this information overload. Their style is refreshingly no-nonsense. They’ll scan a few top reviews, check for any deal-breaker issues, and boom—they’re ready to buy. No marathon YouTube deep-dives. No spreadsheets. No polling the group chat.
Satisficers know perfect information doesn’t exist, and most products in a category are pretty similar anyway. The time saved by skipping endless research usually brings more happiness than finding a slightly better option ever could. Coffee tastes sweeter when you haven’t spent hours agonizing over the perfect beans. Movies are more fun when you haven’t read every last review.
As someone who sits closer to the maximizer end of the spectrum, I am in awe of people who can avoid going down the review and research rabbit hole. When people tell me they booked a hotel because it looked nice in the photos and was close to where they wanted to be, I can’t help but wonder whether they’d be bothered by that inevitable one star review that mentions paper thin walls, or by the other hotel that was in a slightly better location and was marginally cheaper. I wish I could make decisions like that and not worry about whether they were good decisions.
3. You stick with “tried and true” options.
Morning comes, and the satisficer grabs their favorite cereal, just like always. Later, at their regular spot, they order the usual. Some might call that boring, but honestly, it’s a sign of being genuinely content.
Satisficers understand the value of consistency. Chasing novelty sounds exciting, but sticking with what works saves mental energy and builds comforting routines. They’re not against trying new things; they just don’t feel pressured to upgrade what’s already working.
They’ve learned to ignore the “grass is greener” feeling that trips up maximizers. Once they find something that works, they focus their energy elsewhere, instead of wondering about better options. Meals out become about enjoying the company, not worrying whether another place might serve a slightly better dish.
4. You rarely experience buyer’s remorse.
Sales end, prices drop, new models launch—but satisficers sleep easy. They don’t get caught up in buyer’s remorse, and honestly, that’s enviable these days. They buy a new phone, slap on the case, and move on. No obsessive checks to see if they scored the “best deal.” No agonizing over seat choices for a concert.
This isn’t about making reckless choices. Satisficers keep reasonable standards but accept that every choice comes with some limits. They know tiny improvements rarely make up for the stress of second-guessing. That freedom spills over into other parts of life, too.
Relationships do better when people aren’t always wondering if there’s someone better out there. Careers progress more smoothly when you focus on what’s in front of you instead of constantly browsing job boards. Homes feel more like sanctuaries than endless projects.
5. You create simplified routines and systems.
Open a satisficer’s closet and you’ll probably see a small, tidy selection—nothing overwhelming. Their mornings follow a pattern, but it’s not rigid or chaotic. Satisficers lean toward simple systems in most areas.
Their meal planning might just be a handful of tried-and-true recipes, not a search for the next foodie trend. Exercise routines? Usually straightforward and consistent, not a wild mix of new moves every week.
These systems work because they’re sustainable. Maximizers might build complicated plans that fall apart, but satisficers stick to what they can keep up with. They understand that complexity doesn’t always mean better. Mental energy is limited—why waste it on endless tweaks when you could use it for something more meaningful?
And, honestly, these simple routines tend to work better because people actually stick with them.
6. You say “that’ll do” in day-to-day decisions.
Lunch break hits, and while others debate restaurant options, the satisficer checks the nearest café, spots a decent sandwich, and says, “That’ll do.” It seems casual, but it’s actually a pretty deep philosophy.
They use this mindset for all those little daily choices. Picking an outfit? Quick check for comfort and appropriateness, not an all-morning ordeal. Parking? They take the first decent spot, not the elusive “perfect” one.
Treating minor decisions as just that—minor—frees up a ton of mental space. Satisficers save their energy for stuff that really matters. It’s not laziness. They keep standards that fit the situation. They just know when extra effort isn’t worth it. This way, small decisions flow instead of turning into pointless stress.
7. You delegate decisions without micromanaging.
Vacation planning starts, and the satisficer lets their partner pick the destination while they handle travel logistics. No anxious double-checking. No second-guessing. This trust shows up at work and with friends, too. Satisficers hand off tasks without hovering. They’re fine letting someone else pick the restaurant.
They get that perfection isn’t necessary for satisfaction. Other people have their own ways of making decisions, and that’s okay. When someone else chooses a different option, satisficers go with it. They don’t dwell on what could have been.
Letting go of control sometimes brings unexpected joys you’d never find if you tried to manage every detail yourself.
Finding Freedom in “Good Enough”
The satisficer lifestyle isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about using your mental energy where it counts.
These seven habits make life smoother and, honestly, a lot more joyful. “Good enough” decisions open up space for real connections, creativity, and those little moments of presence that maximizers often miss.
If you want to try this out, don’t expect an overnight change. Maybe start by picking one area where you usually overthink things and try satisficing instead. See how it feels to choose the first option that works, rather than chasing perfection. Notice the time and energy you get back.
Turns out, the happiest people aren’t the ones with the best of everything—they’re the ones who make the best of what they’ve got.
