Quick Decision Method

For When You’re Standing in the Store Aisle

The 3-Minute Reality Check

Sometimes you need dish soap NOW. Your kid has a diaper blowout and you’re out of wipes. The cleaning product you ordered online didn’t arrive and guests are coming tonight.

Life happens. Here’s how to make good decisions when you can’t do the full evaluation.

The STOP Method

  • S – Scan the Basics
  • T – Trust Your Red Flags
  • O – One Quick Check
  • P – Pick and Move On
STEp 1:

Scan the Basics

“Does this even meet my basic needs?”

Quick Filter Questions:

  • Function: Will this actually do what I need?
  • Budget: Can I afford this without stress?
  • Size/Type: Right size for my space/usage?

Immediate Eliminators:

  • Way over budget
  • Wrong product type (ex. spray when you need liquid)
  • Size that won’t work (ex. gallon jug when you need travel size)

If it passes this filter, move to Step 2. If not, keep looking.

STEp 2:

Trust Your Red Flags

“What does my gut already know?”

Quick Ingredient Scan:

Look at the first 5 ingredients (these make up 80%+ of most products)

Immediate Red Flags for Your Family:

  • Ingredients you KNOW cause problems for your family
  • Fragrances if anyone has sensitivities
  • Anything you can’t pronounce AND sounds concerning
  • Warning labels that make you uncomfortable

Trust Your Instincts:

  • If the ingredient list makes you uneasy, listen to that
  • If marketing claims seem too good to be true, they probably are
  • If you’re second-guessing, there’s usually a reason

Mental Note: “This feels okay” or “This feels sketchy”

STEp 3:

One Quick Check

“What can I verify right now?”

Phone-in-Hand Options:

Pick ONE of these quick checks:

  • EWG Quick Search: Type product name + “EWG rating”
  • Brand Reputation: Quick Google of “[Brand] + safety concerns”
  • Ingredient Lookup: Search the most concerning ingredient
  • Review Scan: Check Amazon/Target app for pattern complaints

No Phone/Poor Signal:

Use the “Compare and Contrast” method:

  • Look at 2-3 similar products side by side
  • Choose the one with the shortest, most recognizable ingredient list
  • Pick the brand you’ve had good experiences with before
  • When in doubt, choose the option with fewer synthetic fragrances/dyes

Goal: One piece of information that makes you more confident

STEp 4:

Pick and Move On

“Make the decision and don’t look back”

Quick Ingredient Scan:

Look at the first 5 ingredients (these make up 80%+ of most products)

The Engineering Mindset:

  • You’ve gathered reasonable information for the time available
  • Perfect information isn’t possible in 3 minutes
  • A “good enough” decision made quickly is better than analysis paralysis
  • You can always evaluate more thoroughly for your next purchase

Decision Framework:

  • If the product:
    • ✅ Meets your basic needs (Step 1)
    • ✅ Doesn’t trigger major red flags (Step 2)
    • ✅ Has at least one reassuring data point (Step 3)
  • Then: Buy it and move on with your day.

The Permission Statement:

“This is good enough for right now. I’m making an informed quick decision, not a perfect one.”

WHEN TO WALK AWAY

Sometimes the answer is “not today”

Bail-Out Scenarios:

❌ Nothing feels right: All options trigger red flags
❌ Information overload: Too many conflicting claims to sort through quickly
❌ Gut check fails: Something just feels off and you can’t pinpoint why
❌ Analysis paralysis: You’ve been standing there for 10+ minutes

Alternative Actions:

  • Order online later when you have time for proper evaluation
  • Ask for recommendations in your trusted mom groups/communities
  • Buy the smallest size of a “good enough” option to test
  • DIY temporary solution until you can research properly

examples

Scenario 1: Emergency Dish Soap

  • Step 1: Need dish soap under $5 that cuts grease ✅
  • Step 2: Dawn has sulfates (skin irritant for me) ❌, Seventh Generation looks cleaner ✅
  • Step 3: Quick EWG search shows Seventh Generation gets B rating ✅
  • Step 4: Buy Seventh Generation, reassess for next purchase

Scenario 2: Last-Minute Shampoo

  • Step 1: Need shampoo under $10 for normal hair ✅
  • Step 2: Multiple options, no obvious red flags ✅
  • Step 3: Check reviews – one has complaints about hair feeling dry ❌
  • Step 4: Choose the other option, move on

Scenario 3: Kids’ Sunscreen Crisis

  • Step 1: Need SPF 30+ for kids under $15 ✅
  • Step 2: Worried about chemical vs. mineral sunscreens 🤔
  • Step 3: Can’t get clear info on phone quickly ❌
  • Step 4: Buy smallest size of mineral option, research better for next beach trip

THE BOTTOM LINE

Perfect is the enemy of good enough.

Sometimes you need to buy something RIGHT NOW. This method helps you make informed decisions quickly without the stress of trying to be perfect.

Your quick decision today is better than:

  • Analysis paralysis in the store
  • Buying nothing and staying stuck
  • Stress-shopping the most expensive “clean” option
  • Defaulting to whatever’s familiar without thinking

Remember: You’re building decision-making skills, not making life-or-death choices about dish soap.

Save this method to your phone. Practice it at home. Trust your growing expertise.

Your family. Your time constraints. Your reasonable decision.