Why Your Job Search Feels Like Quicksand

Fewer Choices, More Momentum

You’d think more options would make decision-making easier, right?

Wrong.

More options don’t mean more clarity. They mean more second-guessing. More “what-ifs.” More staring at your screen, overwhelmed and stuck.

I’ve seen it happen over and over—especially for people with ADHD. Take job searching, for example. You start with excitement. So many possibilities! So many directions!

But then? The options multiply. You open 27 job tabs. You compare 14 career paths. You spiral into Reddit threads titled, “Is marketing dead in 2024?”

And before you know it, you’re doing the one thing you swore you wouldn’t do.

Nothing.

More Options = More Overthinking

Simon Sinek calls it the 2-not-3 rule:

• If you give people three choices, they pick zero.

• If you give them two, they will always pick one.

This applies to everything—job searching, task switching, even what to eat for dinner. ADHD brains crave novelty, but they also struggle with decision fatigue. So when faced with too many options, we don’t feel free. We feel trapped.

And this is where the 2-not-3 rule becomes a game-changer.

• Pick two fields, not three.

• Pick two job titles, not three.

• Pick two companies, not three.

It feels like you’re limiting yourself. But really? You’re unlocking action.

Because fewer choices = faster decisions = more momentum.

The Paralysis Loop

Here’s how it usually plays out:

• You start researching careers.

• You find a ton of interesting roles.

• You can’t decide which to focus on.

• You try to keep ALL your options open.

• You overthink. You hesitate. You do... nothing.

The irony?

Keeping options open feels like you’re setting yourself up for success. But in reality, it’s keeping you from making any real progress.

The solution isn’t more possibilities. It’s fewer.

Why Less is More (And Not Just for ADHDers)

This rule isn’t just about ADHD—it’s about how all human brains process decisions. Studies in behavioral psychology show that when faced with too many choices, we experience:

1) Decision Fatigue.

The mental exhaustion that makes even simple decisions feel impossible.

2) Choice Overload.

When we have too many options, we get stuck in “analysis paralysis.”

3) Regret Avoidance.

The more choices we have, the more we fear picking the wrong one.

In one famous study, shoppers given six choices of jam were far more likely to make a purchase than those given 24 choices. The fewer options made it easier to decide.

The same principle applies to your job search. To your productivity. To your daily life.

The 2-Not-3 Rule in Action

I’ve seen this rule change lives—not just in job searching, but in daily productivity, too.

1) Task Switching.

— If you struggle to move between tasks, don’t keep a scattered to-do list.
— Instead, pick two key tasks for the day. No more.

2) Career Indecision.

— Can't decide between two industries, four job titles, and six career paths?
— Narrow it down to two. Suddenly, it’s manageable.

3) Overcoming Stuck Brain.

— Instead of juggling three ideas at once, focus on just two next steps.
— The second you limit your options, your brain stops fighting itself.

4) Building Confidence.

— When you make decisions faster, you build momentum.
— And momentum is what creates confidence—not endless overthinking.

It’s simple. It’s counterintuitive. But it works.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that more choice equals more freedom. But when you have ADHD, more choices don’t create clarity. They create chaos.

If you’ve been stuck in decision paralysis—whether it’s career moves, task switching, or just picking a damn restaurant—try the 2-not-3 rule.

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