Decisions aren’t made in a vacuum. Each time we choose one option over another, our brains can’t help but make certain shortcuts. We choose what’s closer over what’s farther away, what’s familiar over what’s foreign, what’s safe over what’s risky.

These shortcuts are all examples of what neuroscientists call bias.

That may sound like a dirty word, but the science makes clear that bias is an ordinary fact of life. Which means the key to making smarter, more effective decisions isn’t stamping out bias entirely, but recognizing that when bias occurs, we can take steps to mitigate it.

The right tools for this job are habits. The right way to build those habits is DECIDE.