When to Press Pause Before Making a Decision

As you move through life, you’re constantly making decisions.  It starts with when to get out of bed, what to have for breakfast, how long to spend in the shower, what to wear... And that’s all before you’ve even left the house! 
 
Many of these daily decisions can be made quickly and easily, but all decisions aren’t like that.  There are times when your best bet is to hold off until you're in a better position to make the best decision possible. 
 
Here are five times when you'll want to press pause before making a decision.

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1.  You’re panicked.
 
A state of panic will wreak havoc with your thinking.  More specifically, panic essentially shuts down your thinking as you go into fight, flight or freeze mode and your “reptilian” brain takes over.  Even if you’re not in a life or death situation, a state of panic makes your brain process things as if it were a matter of life and death.  As you operate from survival mode, you wind up reacting in a way that’s designed to keep you alive.
 
Needless to say, decisions made in this state are often wholly out of proportion to the circumstances at hand. 
 
 
2.  You’re angry.
 
There’s a reason so many of the world’s greatest thinkers have cautioned against speaking or taking action when you’re angry.  Words spoken in anger can’t be unsaid; actions taken in anger can’t be undone.  Both can cause irreparable damage to you, others, and your relationships.  Words and actions that seem totally appropriate in the heat of anger may seem inappropriate, ridiculous, or downright horrendous afterwards once you’ve calmed down and you’re thinking more rationally.
 
If you find yourself on the verge of lashing out in anger, press pause right away!  Before you say or do something you’ll regret later, try the following:

• take a few deep breaths to relax
• get outside for some fresh air to clear your head
• walk around the block to give yourself time to calm down
• go for a workout to let off some steam

 
If time permits, sleep on the situation.  The intensity of your anger will die down, and you’ll be able to approach things the following day with a calmer, cooler head.
 
 
3.  You’re unclear.
 
Good decision-making is predicated on a clear understanding what you’re dealing with, what’s at stake, and what the impact or consequences will be.  If you’re unclear about any of these elements, it’s time to press pause. 
 
Gather the information you need.  Take some time to examine the information you’ve gathered.  Look ahead to what the likely impact or consequences will be of any decision you make.  These steps will help you gain the clarity needed to make the best decision possible.  You’ll also feel more confident in making your decision.
 

4.  You’re exhausted.
 
Exhaustion compromises your decision-making capabilities, causing you to:

• overlook details that are right in front of you
• ignore warning signs you really should heed
• take shortcuts where you should be diligent

 
Exhaustion makes it difficult to think clearly and critically.  The end result?  Poor decisions that could have been avoided if you were well-rested and thinking straight.
 

5.  You’re stressed.
 
Stress sends you into fight, flight, or freeze mode the way panic does.  It muddles your mind and throws you off your game, causing you to make poor decisions.  That leads to poor judgment, short-sightedness, and a messy heap of consequences to be dealt with afterwards.
 
Recognize when you’re more stressed than usual, and hold off on making any big decisions until you’re feeling more grounded and stable.  


Image Credit:  Sofia Behulová from Pixabay

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