I need a new phone and there’s too much to choose from: overcoming ‘overchoice’

I’ve been using the phone I have for nearly four years now and it’s showing true signs that it’s nearing the end of its life. I’m a marine ecologist so I’ve taken it out to sea several times. It’s also seen more than the fair share of being accidentally thrown onto the floor or being knocked out of my hand. Still, I’m so used to this phone. When it’s not just suddenly and unexpectedly dying (even when they battery is full) or when the screen freezes, it works brilliantly. Also, I have all my apps organised on the Home screen exactly as I need. I’m so used to its weight and size dimensions too and I like how it’s just the right size for my tiny, yet stubby hands.

I think I have a small window of opportunity here to safely back-up all my content and all my apps before I am properly unable to resurrect my phone when it abruptly dies every so often. You’d think I’d get on to this right away seeing as how essential the mobile phone has been in this day and age. Apart from needing my phone for making and receiving calls (what if the childcare centre rings with an emergency about my little daughter), I use my phone to access urgent emails and tasks too. Also, I do all my banking on my phone and then of course there’s social media. So how come it’s been two weeks and I haven’t replaced it? I don’t know which one to buy.

Seriously, there seems to be a never-ending list of phones. The first choice was easy—Apple or Android? After that I got lost in a paralyzing maze of phones, best phone lists, and phone reviews. What do you want? The best phone for most people? The best premium or flagship phone? The best budget phone? The one with the best camera? Or do you want the one with the best software? Or the one best for gaming? Or maybe the one that has the most long-lasting battery? Seriously, I could still go on. Then that would take me to three weeks of choice paralysis. Before I know it, I’ll find myself in a situation where I’m at the check-out at the shops, my card has been declined and so I need my phone to move money between accounts but my phone has died.

Lucky it seems that I still have time and now I’m determined to get this task done finally. I’ve done a quick bit of research to beat this paradox of choice and here are the strategies I’ve found that have been most helpful for me.

• Identify — What are the most important things in a phone for me? Is it the cost and the camera? I do love taking absolutely every precious moment of my daughter!
• Evaluate — Do the research and see whether the important things I want in a phone are actually achievable in the price range that I can afford, or does my dream phone actually exist?
• Frame — Choices and options don’t occur in a vacuum. Maybe the phone that I need and want doesn’t exist, like one with the premium specifications, a powerful camera, and a $300 price tag. Maybe if price is really a factor, then I’ll have to compromise premium specs in order to afford one that has great camera instead.
• Choose — Set a deadline and make the choice. Narrow my choices down to two. Sometimes choice paralysis comes when you have to decide between more than two options.
• Re-evaluate — Once you’ve made your choice, remind yourself of the values that you identified. I wanted a mobile phone with the most powerful camera that I could afford.