he Ultimate 2025 Decision Journal Template — Inspired by Farnam Street & Kahneman

Most people think decision-making improves with experience. It doesn’t—unless you deliberately track it.

That’s where a decision journal comes in. It’s a thinking tool used by investors, founders, and strategists to record how and why you choose, so you can learn from what actually happens later.

Instead of judging past decisions through emotion or hindsight, a decision journal helps you:

• Capture reasoning in real time — what you believed, assumed, and expected
• Compare prediction vs. outcome — to see patterns in your thinking
• Train better judgment — by identifying bias, state, and context

It’s a technique made famous by Farnam Street and supported by behavioral science. In 2025, professionals use it to beat cognitive bias and sharpen intuition—whether deciding on a product launch, a job offer, or an investment.

This guide gives you:

• 5 ready-to-use decision journal templates (simple to advanced)
• Tips to build consistency and avoid bias
• Digital tools like Life Note, Notion, and Daylio that make tracking effortless

Your decision journal isn’t a diary—it’s a feedback loop for your brain. Start small, log honestly, and your future self will have the clearest data source of all: your own thinking.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into the 5 decision journal templates to try:

1. Simple Tracker
2. Detailed Analysis
3. Visual Map
4. Probability Log
5. Emotion-Aware Journal

And we’ll also touch on the key tips for success, which are:

• Write regularly
• Review often
• Adjust your template as needed
• Use feedback to improve

And some of the common mistakes to avoid:

• Overcomplicating your journal
• Forgetting to review entries
• Fixating only on results

And of course, tools you’ll need to help you become more effective

• AI-Assisted Journaling App: Life Note, Notion, Evernote
• Other Traditional Journaling Apps: Day One, Daylio, Grid Diary

Start today and watch your decision-making skills improve over time. Your future self will thank you.

Related video from YouTube

Key Parts of a Decision Journal

A decision journal tracks your choices. Here's what to include:

1. Date and Setting

Note when and where you decided. For example:

"July 19, 2023 - Home office, 10:30 AM"

2. Decision Details

State your decision and options clearly:

"Decision: Cut down on fast food Options:

• Quit completely
• Eat once a week
• Keep current habits"

3. Expected vs. Actual Results

Predict outcomes, then compare later:

"Expected: Save $200/month, lose 5 lbs in 30 days Actual: (Fill in after 30 days)"

4. Thoughts and Lessons

Reflect on your process:

"Time pressure rushed my decision. Next time, I'll set aside time for big choices."

To boost your journal's value:

• Use a template
• Focus on big decisions
• Review every six months
• Be honest

Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman says:

"Go down to a local drugstore and buy a very cheap notebook and start keeping track of your decisions."

5 Decision Journal Templates

Here are five decision journal templates to boost your decision-making skills:

1. Simple Tracker

Perfect for beginners:

2. Detailed Analysis

For a deeper dive:

1. Decision Details

• Date and time:
• Decision to be made:
• Context:
• Mental and physical state:

2. Options Considered

• Option 1:
• Option 2:
• Option 3:

3. Pros and Cons

• Option 1 pros/cons:
• Option 2 pros/cons:
• Option 3 pros/cons:

4. Expected Outcome

• Short-term:
• Long-term:

5. Actual Outcome (fill later)

• Short-term results:
• Long-term results:

6. Reflection

• What worked:
• What didn't:
• Future lessons:

3. Visual Map

For visual thinkers:

[Decision]
├── [Option 1]
│   ├── [Outcome 1]
│   └── [Outcome 2]
├── [Option 2]
│   ├── [Outcome 1]
│   └── [Outcome 2]
└── [Option 3]
    ├── [Outcome 1]
    └── [Outcome 2]

Add notes and probabilities to each branch.

4. Probability Log

For risk assessment:

5. Emotion-Aware Journal

Track how feelings affect choices:

1. Decision Context

• Date:
• Decision:
• Current mood:

2. Emotion Check

• Feelings about each option:
• Emotional bias check:
• Alternative choice if mood was different:

3. Rational Analysis

• Pros/cons of options:
• Expected outcomes:

4. Final Choice

• Decision:
• Reasoning:
• Post-decision mood:

5. Follow-up (fill later)

• Actual outcome:
• Emotional response:
• Lessons learned:

Choose a template that suits you. The goal? Better decisions over time.

Tips for Using Decision Journals

Here's how to make the most of your decision journal:

1. Write Regularly

Set a weekly time to jot down your big decisions. This helps you track your thinking, spot patterns, and build a useful record.

2. Review Often

Don't just write and forget. Look back at your entries every few months. You'll catch mistakes, see what works, and learn from the past.

Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize winner, says:

"The key to doing this is that it prevents something called hindsight bias, which is no matter what happens in the world, we tend to look back on our decision-making process, and we tilt it in a way that looks more favorable to us."

3. Adjust Your Template

As your needs change, tweak your journal template. Focus on what matters now, add or remove sections, and keep it interesting.

4. Use Feedback to Improve

Turn your journal into a learning tool. Use past insights for future decisions, know your strengths and weaknesses, and work on your weak spots.

Tools for Decision Journaling

Let's look at some tools to make decision journaling easier:

Computer Programs

Notion and Evernote are great for organizing your decision journal. They let you create templates, tag entries, and add files.

Notion offers 6 months free and unlimited AI use for decision journaling. This can help you spot patterns in your choices.

Phone Apps

For tracking decisions on the go, try these:

These apps make it easy to record decisions anywhere. Mood tracking can add context to your choices.

Work Integration

Linking your decision journal to work tools can boost productivity:

• ClickUp has templates for decision-making frameworks and trees.
• Geekbot sends journal prompts through Slack or Microsoft Teams.

Michael Pryor, Trello's CEO, says:

"Integrating decision journaling into our project management tools improved team decision-making speed and quality by 20%."

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Decision journaling can be a game-changer, but it's easy to mess up. Here are the big pitfalls and how to dodge them:

1. Overcomplicating Things

People often make their journals too complex. This leads to inconsistent use or giving up entirely.

The fix:

• Keep it simple: decision, expected outcome, actual result
• Use a basic template or app
• Set a time limit (5-10 minutes per entry)

2. Forgetting to Review

What's the point of a journal if you never look at it?

The fix:

• Schedule regular reviews (weekly or monthly)
• Set calendar reminders
• Pair reviews with other habits (like monthly goal-setting)

3. Fixating on Results

Only looking at outcomes misses half the picture.

The fix:

• Write down your thought process and assumptions
• Note external factors that swayed your decision
• Think about what you'd do differently next time

"If you fail to keep score accurately, you can't possibly expect to win the game." - Author Unknown

This quote nails it. To improve, you need to track both your process and your results.

Seeing the Effects of Decision Journaling

Decision journaling isn't just about writing stuff down. It's about seeing real changes in how you make choices. Let's look at the impact and long-term benefits.

1. Measuring Progress

To know if your decision journal is working, track these things:

Fill this out every few months. Look at the outcomes, not just how you feel. Did that project you approved actually boost sales? Did that new hire perform as expected?

2. Long-Term Gains

Over time, decision journaling can lead to big improvements:

• You'll spot trends in your decision-making
• You'll catch and fix your biases
• Your whole team can make smarter choices if you share your journal

A study found that managers using decision logs saw a 20% boost in overall performance. That's huge!

"Decisions drive action across your company far beyond the effort that goes into them, so your decision making habits have an outsized impact on your work."

This quote nails why tracking decisions matters. It's not just about you—it affects your whole team or company.

Stick with your journal for at least 6 months. That's when the real benefits kick in. It's not just about better choices. It's about understanding yourself and becoming a stronger leader.

How to Use a Decision Journal (Step-by-Step)

You don’t need a fancy system. You need a repeatable one. Here’s a simple 7-step flow you can tell people to follow every time a non-trivial decision shows up.

Step 1: Mark the moment

Write the date, time, and situation.

“2025-11-10, 9:15 AM, deciding whether to hire senior PM.”

This locks in context so you can’t later say “I always knew…”

Step 2: Define the decision

State it in one sentence.

“Decision: Hire candidate B for the senior PM role.”

If you can’t write it clearly, you’re not deciding yet.

Step 3: List real options

Minimum two, three is better.

• Hire candidate B now
• Keep searching 30 days
• Redesign role and hire mid-level

This prevents fake decisions where there is only one path.

Step 4: Write your reasoning and assumptions

This is the heart of the journal. Capture:

• why you prefer this option
• what you believe about the future
• what could make this wrong

“I think B will ramp faster because she’s shipped similar products.”
“Risk: she hasn’t led a team this large.”
“Assumption: we won’t find someone clearly better in 30 days.”

This is the part you will review later.

Step 5: Predict the outcome

Force a forecast. You can do it qualitative or numeric.

“Success looks like: she ships v1 in 90 days and earns trust from engineering.”
“Probability of success: 70%.”
“Potential downside: culture mismatch → team churn.”

The point is not to be right. The point is to compare future reality to present thinking.

Step 6: Log your state

Write how you feel right now.

“Slept 5h, a bit rushed, want to close this req.”

This is what most people skip, and it’s where you later spot patterns like “I make worse calls when I’m tired/impatient.”

Step 7: Schedule the review

Decisions don’t teach you anything if you never go back.

• short review: in 30–60 days
• long review: in 6–12 months

At review time, fill in:

• what actually happened
• what you missed
• whether the process was good even if the outcome wasn’t

That last line is key: good process, bad outcome is still a win. The journal helps you see that.

Wrap-Up

A decision journal is your secret weapon for better choices. Here's why it matters:

• It's your personal decision database
• It helps you spot patterns in your thinking
• It's a shield against hindsight bias

By keeping track, you'll:

Ready to start? Here's how:

1. Pick your tool (app or notebook)

2. Focus on the big stuff (job changes, major purchases, life shifts)

3. Write down:

• When and why you're deciding
• Your options
• What you chose
• What you think will happen
• What actually happens (fill this in later)

Pro tip: Check your journal every few months. It's like a feedback loop for your brain.

Remember, this isn't about beating yourself up. It's about getting better, one decision at a time.

"A decision journal is like a GPS for your choices. It shows where you've been and helps you navigate where you're going."

Start today. Your future self will thank you.

FAQs

Q1. How do I start a decision journal?

Begin with clarity and consistency. Choose a simple format (digital or paper) and record only high-impact decisions — those involving time, money, or relationships.
Include these elements every time:

1. Date and context — when and where you decided
2. Options considered — real alternatives, not wishful thinking
3. Reasoning — why you chose what you did
4. Predicted outcomes — what you expect to happen
5. Emotional state — how you felt at the moment
6. Actual results — fill this in later to compare reality vs. expectation

Keep it short; complexity kills follow-through.Does journaling help with decision-making?

Yes, but not how you'd think. It's not for in-the-moment choices. Instead, it:

• Improves your process over time
• Reveals thinking patterns
• Guards against hindsight bias

"A decision journal refines your process for future choices, rather than helping you decide right now."

Q2. Does journaling really improve decision-making?

Yes — consistently. Behavioral science confirms that recording your reasoning reduces hindsight bias and improves calibration over time.
A 2024 Behavioral Science & Policy study found that managers using decision journals improved forecasting accuracy by 19%. Similar findings appear in Frontiers in Psychology (2025): written reflection helps people learn from outcomes more objectively.
In short: journaling doesn’t make every decision right — it makes your process smarter.

Q3. How often should I write in a decision journal?

For most people:

• Weekly: one major decision log (work or life)
• Quarterly: review patterns and update lessons
• After big milestones: note unexpected outcomes

The point isn’t volume, it’s reflection. A few high-quality entries teach you more than dozens of rushed ones.

Q4. What’s the difference between a decision journal and regular journaling?

A decision journal is structured and analytical; it captures reasoning before the outcome.
Regular journaling is emotional and reflective; it records reactions after the fact.
You need both. One sharpens thought, the other processes feeling.

Q5. What does Farnam Street recommend?

Farnam Street popularized the decision journal model in business and investing circles. Their method focuses on:

• Documenting context and assumptions
• Rating confidence (0–100%)
• Reviewing after time passes to measure accuracy
  This approach converts decisions into data — a direct defense against overconfidence.

Q6. Can AI tools help with decision journaling?

Yes. Tools like Life Note or Notion AI can analyze text for bias, emotion, and recurring patterns.
AI doesn’t replace human judgment — it just surfaces blind spots faster.
Search interest for “AI decision journaling tools 2025” has grown steadily, reflecting the shift toward blended reflection systems.

Q7. What if my decisions are emotional or personal?

Write them anyway. Emotion gives data context. Log both what you felt and why you acted — it’s the bridge between psychology and rationality.
Patterns often reveal that poor choices stem from state, not logic. That’s the real insight.

Q8. How do you write a decision journal?

To write a decision journal:

1. Date and context

Jot down when and where you're making the decision.

2. Decision details

Describe what you're deciding on.

3. Options

List all your choices.

4. Your pick

Explain which option you chose and why.

5. Expected outcomes

What do you think will happen?

6. Current feelings

How do you feel about this decision?

7. Actual results

Come back later and fill this in.

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