You think you make rational decisions.
You don't. And that's normal.
Here are 5 biases affecting you right now—and what to do about them.
1. Confirmation Bias
What it is: Seeking information that confirms what you already believe, while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts it.
Example: You're considering a new job. You only read reviews that match your opinion (good if you want the job, bad if you're hesitant). You skip the ones that challenge your view.
Why it matters: You miss warning signs. You make decisions based on incomplete information.
Fix: Actively seek opposing views before deciding. Ask yourself: "What would make me wrong about this?" Then go find that evidence.
2. Sunk Cost Fallacy
What it is: Continuing to invest in something because you've already invested time, money, or effort—even when it's clearly not working.
Example: Staying in a bad relationship because of "all the years we've been together." Finishing a terrible movie because you paid for the ticket.
Why it matters: Past investment shouldn't dictate future choices. The time/money is already gone. The only question is: what's the best path forward from here?
Fix: Ask yourself: "If I were starting fresh today, knowing what I know now, would I make this choice?" If the answer is no, it's time to walk away.
3. Recency Bias
What it is: Overweighting recent events and assuming they represent the norm.
Example: One bad experience at a restaurant overshadows years of good meals there. One rough week at work makes you think you hate your job.
Why it matters: It distorts your perception of patterns. Recent doesn't mean representative.
Fix: Zoom out. Look at longer timeframes. Ask: "Is this one data point, or an actual trend?"
4. Anchoring
What it is: Over-relying on the first piece of information you receive (the "anchor"), even if it's irrelevant or arbitrary.
Example: Salary negotiation. The first number mentioned sets the range for the entire conversation, even if it's way off market value.
Why it matters: First impressions set invisible limits on what you think is possible.
Fix: Generate your own anchor before receiving external input. Do your research. Know your number before the negotiation starts.
5. Availability Heuristic
What it is: Judging the likelihood of something based on how easily examples come to mind.
Example: Fear of flying after seeing plane crash news, even though driving is statistically more dangerous. Worrying about shark attacks at the beach because you just watched Jaws.
Why it matters: Dramatic, memorable events feel more common than they actually are. Your brain mistakes "easy to remember" for "likely to happen."
Fix: Check actual data, not emotional memory. Ask: "How often does this really happen?" Not "How scary does this feel?"
Conclusion
Awareness is the first step.
You can't eliminate these biases—they're built into how your brain works. But you can account for them.
Better decisions come from knowing your blind spots.
Next time you're making an important choice, run through this list. Ask yourself: which of these biases might be influencing me right now?
Then adjust accordingly.