Scientists have found that making simple choices (like what
kind of dessert to have) are best done in the traditional "analyze the
pros/cons" approach. However, for complex decisions like which job
to take or which house to buy, you are better off gathering the data and then
letting your unconscious mind make the decision. You can either
"sleep on it" or, as they did in the study, you can occupy your conscious
mind with other things. An important point is that in order for your
unconscious mind to do a good job, you need to know you have a decision to make.
New Scientist Breaking News – ‘Sleeping on it’ best for complex decisions.