Hats, haircuts and tattos
Every day, we make countless decisions — some deliberate, others barely noticed. At each bend in the road, we choose: pause or proceed, turn left or right, wade in or walk away.
Often, people seek coaching because they’re facing a decision where the answer isn’t clear. They feel stuck between options, unsure which path is “right.” A simple framework I sometimes share comes from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. He describes three types of decisions: hats, haircuts, and tattoos.
Some decisions are like hats — easy, low-risk, and reversible.
Some are like haircuts — visible and meaningful, but not permanent.
Others are like tattoos — lasting choices that shape identity and direction.
Some decisions are like hats — easy, low-risk, and reversible.
Some are like haircuts — visible and meaningful, but not permanent.
Others are like tattoos — lasting choices that shape identity and direction.
I love this framework because it helps us right-size our decisions.
So often, we treat small, reversible choices as if they’ll define us forever — overthinking an email, a schedule change, or a minor shift in plans. At the same time, we sometimes rush decisions that truly deserve reflection and care. Neither extreme brings clarity or peace.
Life isn’t shaped by one perfect, defining choice. It’s shaped by a series of decisions made along the way. Some are light. Some are significant. Some change us. All of them move us forward.
Life isn’t shaped by one perfect, defining choice. It’s shaped by a series of decisions made along the way. Some are light. Some are significant. Some change us. All of them move us forward.
When we begin to see decisions this way, the pressure softens. It becomes less about getting everything exactly right and more about being present to what this moment requires.
We choose. We learn. We adjust. And then we keep walking.
Reflection: Is there a decision you’ve been carrying that feels heavier than it needs to be? Are you treating a hat like a tattoo — or a tattoo like a hat?
Action: Choose one decision this week and gently label it: hat, haircut, or tattoo. Let that guide how much time, energy, and emotional weight you give it — then take the next step, even if it’s a small one.
Tool: Hats, Haircuts, and Tattoos — a simple framework for responding to decisions with the level of care they actually deserve.