Today, 27th February, is No Brainer Day. I’ll admit, it’s not one of the more famous awareness days. You won’t find themed cupcakes in the supermarket or hashtags trending on X. But it did catch my attention, mainly because it made me notice my own tendency to overthink and to err on the side of caution.
So, what exactly is No Brainer Day? It was created back in 2001 by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith as a gentle nudge to stop analysing every little decision and to act more instinctively. The idea is simple: not everything in life needs a detailed pros-and-cons list or three rounds of deliberation. Sometimes we make life harder than it needs to be by overcomplicating the small stuff.
Apparently, the best way to mark No Brainer Day is to act on something you’ve been circling around for too long. Maybe it’s sending that LinkedIn message to a former colleague, or applying for a role that’s been open on your browser for a week, or finally giving feedback to your team member. The decision itself probably isn’t hard – it’s the committing that’s tricky.
If you recognise yourself in that description, you might enjoy Tim Urban’s TED Talk on procrastination. It’s funny, painfully relatable and might just help you dial down your inner overthinker.
I’ve noticed this theme show up in my own strengths profile. One of my top five VIA Character Strengths is Prudence, which means I naturally like to weigh up options and think things through. It’s a strength – until it tips over into hesitation or rumination. Days like this are a reminder that “good enough” decisions often move us forward faster than perfect ones ever could.
So, if you want to honour No Brainer Day, don’t overcomplicate it. Tidy your workspace, send the message, book the meeting, or just take one small action you’ve been putting off. You might be surprised how much lighter your brain feels once it’s done.
Then, if you’re feeling brave, share what you did using #NoBrainerDay. Who knows – you might inspire someone else to stop overthinking and start doing.
