Design a decision default so you stop deciding

I keep spending energy on this recurring decision: {{describe, e.g. whether to take every intro call, what to work on first, whether to reply}}. It comes up {{how often}}. Current approach: {{ad hoc}}.

1. Identify what I'm actually optimising for here, and the hidden tradeoff I make inconsistently.
2. Look at my past cases: {{paste a few examples and outcomes}}. What did the good outcomes have in common?
3. Write the default rule — a policy I can apply in under 10 seconds, phrased as "by default I do X, unless Y".
4. Define the exception criteria precisely, so "unless" doesn't swallow the rule.
5. Stress test it: give me three cases where the rule produces a bad outcome, and decide whether that cost is acceptable versus the energy saved.
6. Give the sentence I use to communicate the policy to other people, so it's not personal.
7. Set a review date and the signal that the rule needs changing.

A rule I break weekly is worse than no rule. Make it one I'll keep.