Finding peace with tech choices

In today’s tech landscape, it feels like every other day brings a new framework, library, or tool that promises to revolutionize development. For many of us in software, this abundance of options can feel like a double-edged sword.

Sure, it’s great to have choices, but when every decision is accompanied by a nagging fear of missing out on "the next big thing," the joy of picking the right technology can quickly turn into a stressful experience.

Inspired by a concept from the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* by Mark Manson, I’ve come to appreciate that sometimes, having fewer choices might actually lead to better, more satisfying decisions. It’s a philosophy that I believe can help us find more peace in our work, especially in a world where the next shiny tech is always just around the corner.

The rise of tech-Influencers and decision fatigue

In recent years, tech-fluencers have become prominent voices in the industry. While some provide genuine insights and valuable reviews, others are incentivized, sometimes by financial gain, to push certain technologies. I have nothing against it, my take is that it can make it difficult to know whether a tool is being recommended for its true merits or because it’s the latest sponsored trend.

As developers, we’re bombarded with endless “must-try” lists and “top frameworks for the year” posts. We watch our peers on social media praise the latest JavaScript library, and soon enough, we’re left questioning our own choices: Should I have chosen this other tool? Am I already falling behind? This overload of information can lead to a kind of decision fatigue, where we end up second-guessing our selections more than actually enjoying the work itself.

The problem with too many choices

When you have an abundance of options, it’s easy to feel like no matter what you choose, there’s always a “better” choice you might have missed. This concept, often referred to as the “paradox of choice,” can lead to regret and a constant feeling of dissatisfaction.

It’s like standing in a grocery store with 20 different brands of pasta. The more choices you have, the more you might worry that you’re not picking the “best” one, and it becomes easier to feel remorse over your decision. The same thing happens in tech: when there are countless options for frameworks, libraries, or cloud services, choosing one often feels like committing to the “wrong” one.

This feeling of regret is magnified in software development because, unlike pasta, the decisions we make in tech require a significant investment of time, resources, and energy. And with the fast pace of tech evolution, even the “right” choice today can quickly become deprecated tomorrow. This endless cycle of constant updates and changes fuels the sense that our choices are always temporary, adding stress and a lingering feeling of uncertainty.

Embracing iterations

One way to combat this endless cycle of regret is to adopt an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) mindset. This approach encourages us to make the best decision we can with the information and resources available right now, rather than obsessing over perfection. We don’t need to get it 100% right on the first try, because there’s always room to iterate, learn, and adapt as we go.

By applying the MVP mindset, we shift our focus from finding the “perfect” technology to making a good enough decision that allows us to move forward. Instead of investing months in choosing a single tool, we test a few, get feedback, and iterate based on real-world experience. With this approach, we’re less likely to feel regret because we understand that our choice wasn’t meant to be permanent — it was just a stepping stone.

Focus on needs, not trends

In a world where new frameworks pop up every day, one way to reduce decision anxiety is by focusing on what the product truly needs instead of getting distracted by trends. The goal is to ask ourselves, Does this technology genuinely address our needs? rather than Is this what everyone else is using right now?

For example, if you’re building a simple web application with minimal interactivity, you might not need the latest JavaScript framework with all its bells and whistles. A simpler solution could work just as well, without the added complexity. By honing in on the essential needs of the project, we’re less likely to be swayed by external opinions or the pressure to adopt the newest, most popular tool.

Overcoming FOMO (Fear of missing out)

The tech industry has its own unique brand of FOMO. When you see other developers hyping up a new technology, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out if you’re not using it, too. But here’s the truth: there will always be a new tool, a new language, a new “must-have” framework. Instead of constantly chasing trends, we should strive to make peace with the decisions we make, understanding that they were the best choices for us at the time.

Just because you didn’t use the latest library doesn’t mean your solution is any less valid. It’s a matter of shifting our mindset to prioritize long-term stability and satisfaction over the need to constantly stay on the bleeding edge. Technology will continue to evolve, but our sense of contentment can remain stable if we focus on what genuinely matters to us and our projects.

Living with our decisions

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to reflect on the decisions we make, not with regret, but with an understanding of context. When we look back on our choices, it’s easy to criticize with the benefit of hindsight. But the reality is that every decision is made with the tools and knowledge we have at the moment.

Living in peace with our decisions means understanding that it’s okay to pivot or change direction when new information arises. It’s okay if the technology you chose a year ago isn’t the one you’d pick today — that’s a sign of growth and adaptability, not failure. Embrace the fact that in tech, like in life, there’s no “right” choice, only the best choice for right now.

Conclusion

The paradox of choice in tech can feel overwhelming, especially with the rise of tech-fluencers and the constant introduction of new tools. But by focusing on our project’s needs, adopting an MVP mindset, and finding peace in our decisions, we can navigate this landscape with more confidence and less regret.

In the end, technology is a tool that serves us, not a measure of our worth or success. The next time you feel paralyzed by the number of choices in front of you, remember: sometimes, fewer options lead to better decisions. Take a breath, trust your instincts, and know that the choice you make today is the right one for where you are now.