How do you explore multiple directions in a project without losing your previous work?

Been wrestling with a workflow problem and wondering how others handle it.

When I'm building something and I'm not sure which direction is right, for example two different UI approaches, or two different ways to structure something, I find myself in a painful loop:

Try direction A, spend a few hours on it. Realize it's not quite right, try to go back to where I was. Either the checkpoint is lost or I've drifted too far to recover cleanly.

I've been using Git branches but it still feels clunky when I'm in a fast exploratory phase and just want to see both options running at the same time.

Do you commit constantly and branch aggressively? Keep multiple project folders? Use a specific Cursor workflow? Curious what people have actually landed on.