No, not that “O”…. I mean overwhelm, in the form of too many choices. We live in a world filled with options – from what brand of toothpaste is best to what kitty litter Boots will like the most. Even the seemingly simple task of buying a pair of blue jeans can turn into an overwhelming chore – boot cut or wide legged, relaxed fit or slim fit, stonewashed or dark denim, button down fly or zipper fly, low rise or high rise…a “choice” nightmare.

Barry Schwartz talks about too many choices in his book The Paradox of Choice – Why Less is More.

He claims, “Whether we are applying to college, choosing a doctor, or setting up a 401K, everyday decisions – both big and small – have become increasingly complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented.”

Freedom of Choice orThe Big “O”
As Americans, we champion freedom of choice as a road to greater satisfaction. The real question is – are we happy or harried?

How much time do we spend making decisions? Are we spending our lives the way we really want to? To illustrate, join me on an errand or two.

First stop, the grocery store- my list includes:

• Soup
• Olive Oil
• Crackers
• Salad
• Juice

The soup aisle – different brands and different flavors in low-fat, no-fat, low-salt, no-salt, broth, chunky, hearty, creamy versions. Total choices = 243. Time spent deciding; peering at calorie counts, nutritional values…. 7 minutes.

It’s on to the olive oil; 12 brands, various sizes, blended, virgin, extra-virgin and extra-extra virgin olive oil. This one’s easy – I don’t care and buy the one on sale. Time spent: 2 minutes. Crackers are next; please note, half of the aisle is dedicated to crackers, the other half to cookies.

178 choices – Brands! Flavors! Seasonings! Glitch! My favorite cookies are on sale – buy one, get one free. I grab four packages. What a deal! Time spent on crackers; 61/2 minutes and cookies; 30 seconds, for a total of 7 minutes.

In the produce section, I see Romaine, Boston, Bibb, Arugula, and Iceberg – organic, bulk or bag. Can’t decide which lettuce so I buy a combination bag “California Blend.” Time spent on salad selection, 4 minutes.

Last item, juice. 85 flavors and brands of juices – box, bottle, plastic, glass, can, sport’s drinks, powdered, concentrate – that reminds me…I should check the frozen section. Time spent: 5 minutes. Twenty-five minutes to buy five items.

Next stop, the drug store and only one item on my list: nail polish remover. My choices include 8 brands, acetone, non-acetone, Vitamin E, aloe, gelatin-formula, oily, non-oily, individual packets, jars (stick your finger in and twirl) – I pick out two new nail colors as I decide on the remover.

Holiday cards are on sale! A plethora of choices: humorous, thought-provoking, glitter-covered, colored envelopes, valu-pak, religious, non-religious – Humorous, it is, and I’m off to the checkout stand. Total time spent: 32 minutes.

I’m exhausted. I’ll save the dry cleaners and post office until tomorrow.

Simply Satisfied
In 1987, I biked through beautiful Scandinavia. As I trudged up to the top of the mountains (well, maybe hills) along came local Scandinavians, biking in the opposite direction. They were several decades older than my 27 years, and seemed tireless, with bright smiling faces.

I immediately changed my grimace to a smile, and wondered ‘why are they so happy and carefree?’ When I stopped for water, I noticed that the local store had only two choices, bubbles or no bubbles (I picked no bubbles). I sat outside and watched people come and go, as I drank my no bubbles water.

I noticed people didn’t spend a lot of time in the store. They weren’t in a rush when they came out. I saw a mother sit down and have a snack with her toddlers. I saw an elderly couple share an ice cream. I became aware of how Scandinavians spent their time – not on choices, but on enjoying each other and life.

One evening at dinner, I stared at the menu and tried to decide what to eat. I asked a young couple who sat next to me if they spoke English. “Yes,” they smiled. Could they help me decide what to order for dinner?

They laughed and said – “Of course.” I became tormented over the decision: “smorgasbord or cheese plate”, when they sighed and said, “What’s the big deal? You will be having another dinner tomorrow night, yes?” What a revelation.

The last week of my bike trip, I hit a terrible headwind. With my head down, I pedaled as hard and fast as I could and hit a car accidentally parked in the bike lane. I flew off my bike and landed on the ground. In less than five minutes, an ambulance picked me up and whisked me to a nearby hospital.

The hospital staff cheerfully bandaged me up and assured me that I was okay. Grateful, I started to reach for my purse and asked “How should I take are of this?” They replied, “Just freshen the bandages in a day or so.” In that moment I was absolutely thrilled to have no choice in healthcare.

Back to the “O”
My limited choices gave me a ‘lightness of being.’ Less really can be more. More time to spend on life and what matters more, like maybe the big “O” … and I don’t mean overwhelm.

Mare Petras is a 27-year certified fitness professional, speaker and coach. Her Fitness Simply books, Tone Up With Wine & Other Fun Fit Tips and The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Swimsuit Shoppers reflect her simple, playful philosophy, “enjoy your life; enjoy your body, every minute, every day.” She lives and plays in Sarasota, FL and can be reached at FitnessSimply.com