Doctors work with a level of responsibility that doesn’t really switch off. Even a small mistake can have real consequences, so they learn to be careful—sometimes excessively so. They double-check everything, go back over decisions, and spend extra time refining their notes. It becomes part of how they operate.
But that approach can become overwhelming. Instead of helping, it can trap them in cycles of overthinking. A single lab result or plan can take far longer than it should. It drains their energy over time. And eventually, that exhaustion starts to show—not just in how they work, but in how they connect with people. The system rewards precision, but doesn’t always leave room for balance.
That is where a strange-sounding word comes in, ‘satisficing.’ It is a practical decision-making hack from the 1950s. A clever scientist named Herbert Simon invented the term. He smashed together the words “satisfy” and “suffice.” The idea is simple. You pick the first option that meets your basic needs.
Satisficing stops analysis paralysis cold. It tells your anxious mind that done is better than perfect. For doctors facing endless decisions daily, this hack saves precious time and mental space.
How 'Satisficing' Actually Works in Real Life
Nilov / Pexels / Psychiatrist Dr. Tina Thomas from Kaiser Permanente teaches satisficing to her patients regularly. She notices that perfectionists want to be 100% ready before they act.
They wait for the “ideal moment” and seek absolute certainty. That moment never comes. So nothing gets done. Satisficing flips that broken logic. You decide what “good enough” looks like before you start. Then you grab the very first thing that fits that description.
Dr. Thomas doesn’t overcomplicate it. Decide by a certain point, and once you do, stick with it. No revisiting. No comparing. Just move forward. That’s how you avoid getting stuck in endless doubt.
Why Medicine Breeds Perfectionists
Anesthesiologist Dr. Tiffany Moon has talked about how this shows up in real life. Her work doesn’t allow for loose decisions. Even a small dosing error during surgery can be fatal. When you sit with that long enough, it changes how you operate. For her, it turned into very rigid, almost obsessive habits just to feel in control.
Dr. Jodie Lowinger explains that family doctors often end up in a similar place, just through a different route. They care deeply about their patients. That’s a good thing—but it also brings a constant fear of getting something wrong. Over time, that fear starts interfering with how they work.
Tima / Pexels / Try shifting focus from outcomes to effort and values. Dr. Lowinger suggests experimenting with imperfection.
Do something imperfect on purpose. Leave a typo. Skip the overthinking. Watch what happens. Usually, nothing.
Dr. Derek Hrabovsky calls impossible standards “dead man goals.” They sound ideal, but they don’t work in real life.
