What are cognitive heuristics?

Cognitive heuristics are shortcuts your brain uses to make decisions faster, like a super-smart friend who helps you figure things out in seconds.

Imagine you're picking between two snacks at the store, a big bag of chips and a small bag of candy. Your brain doesn’t do complicated math; instead, it uses a heuristic, like “bigger is better,” to help you choose quickly.

Think of your brain as a playground with different games. When you're trying to decide what to wear, your brain might play the game “I always pick blue on Mondays.” That’s a rule of thumb, a kind of cognitive heuristic.

Sometimes these shortcuts help you win (like picking the bigger bag of chips and finding it tastes amazing). Other times they trick you into thinking the biggest cookie is the best, even when it's just covered in chocolate sauce.

Your brain uses heuristics all day long, like when you guess how many steps are in a staircase or choose your favorite toy without thinking. They're not magic; they're just smart habits your brain has learned to make life easier and faster.