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You Don’t Need More Advice. You Need Clarity
👋 Hey again, it’s Jaafar
We’re at week three of this little series on the sneaky patterns keeping designers stuck.
So far, we’ve talked about:
Pattern 1: Tool-First Thinking
Pattern 2: Template Overload and Framework Hopping
This week we’re digging into something even l harder to filter out.
Pattern 3: Advice Overload
You’ve probably been there.
One day you're told to "nail your design system"
The next day it’s "focus on storytelling"
Then it's "just network more"
Then it's "learn AI before it replaces you"
And suddenly you’re drowning in LinkedIn, YouTube breakdowns, and newsletters.
All well-intentioned. All slightly contradicting each other.
And together? Completely paralyzing.
What is Advice Overload?
It’s when you consume so much information about how to grow as a designer that you stop knowing what actually matters.
You’re stuck in learning mode.
Always preparing. Never applying.
Why this happens
Because advice is everywhere. And it feels like momentum.
You watch a portfolio review and tell yourself you're making progress.
You save a thread and feel like you’ve taken a step forward.
You read a new guide and suddenly doubt everything you just built.
It's addictive. It feels smart. It feeds your FOMO.
But most of the time, it’s just noise.
What this looks like
You might be stuck in Advice Overload if:
You’re always switching your goals based on what someone else said
You feel like you need more validation before starting anything
You know how to improve in theory but never feel confident doing it
You’ve got 50 saved resources but nothing to show for it
At some point, reading more tips isn’t the answer. Taking action is.
What it costs you
Constant self-doubt
Lack of direction
Shiny-object syndrome
Endless tweaking instead of shipping
You burn out not from doing too much, but from trying to follow too many voices at once.
What the research says
Hick’s Law explains that the more choices you’re given, the longer it takes to make a decision.
That means when you’re constantly flooded with advice, tips, and frameworks, your brain takes longer to choose a direction — or just doesn’t choose at all.
The result? You stay stuck in indecision, not because you’re lazy, but because you’re overloaded.
Less advice isn’t just simpler. It’s smarter.
What to do instead
✅ Pick one or two trusted voices to follow for now
✅ Apply what you already know before seeking more
✅ Set clear personal goals so you know which advice is actually useful
✅ Stop saving everything and start testing something
Quick reflection
Ask yourself:
What advice have I been holding onto but not acting on?
Am I learning to grow or learning to avoid taking action?
Can I pause the input and give myself space to think?
You probably don’t need another strategy. You need space to try what you already know.
Final thought
Advice isn’t bad. But too much of it will leave you lost.
The best way to grow isn’t to follow 20 different experts.
It’s to try something, see how it goes, and adjust from there.
Take the pressure off. Take one step. Repeat.
Pattern 4 — The Copy-Paste Portfolio Loop
Trying to impress everyone usually ends in work that doesn’t stand out to anyone.
If this one hit home, then see you next week!
That’s all for this week.
See you next Wednesday!
Jaafar Khraizat
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