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“When I run a marathon, around mile 34, I always ask myself, ‘Why am I doing this? It’s stupid.” But there are still eight kilometers ahead. Tyler Tervuren, creator of riskology.co, a site dedicated to the psychology of risk making, shares his experience.
“In a stressful situation, the brain begins to “grumble” in this way. But running is not stupid. It is a test of endurance and an important personal achievement. Usually I am able to think about it about a week after the race. That is why I have a rule: during “marathons” of any kind, I do not make decisions. Once you start, you have to finish. All reflection and reasoning is postponed until later,” says Tyler Tervooren.
It seems obvious, but ask yourself how often you make bad decisions when you’re under stress. We all know not to do this, but we do it anyway. Fortunately, there are simple tricks that will help you avoid doing such stupid things, or at least do them very rarely.
What prevents stress?
In 1987, clinical psychologist Giora Keinan of Tel Aviv University conducted an experiment with 101 students (1). Participants were presented with several situations and were required to make a decision, given that in a series of answers there was one clearly correct and several clearly incorrect options. There was no time limit for selection. Could it be wrong? However, many students made the wrong decision, which they later regretted. Why?
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Some of the students worked in a quiet and peaceful environment. Others were subjected to stress in every possible way – and they could control something, but something did not depend on them at all. The students from the first group, as expected, made the right decisions. Those who were exposed to stress beyond their control made many mistakes. It is noteworthy that those who were exposed to even a little stress and could somehow control its source also showed poor results. It turned out that any stress, regardless of its type and intensity, greatly hinders decision-making.
A few rules to help guide you
1. Don’t let stress make decisions for you.
Don’t shy away from running marathons while you’re at mile 34. At the moment of maximum stress at work or in the middle of a large project, you will be very tempted to make a decision that you may later regret. Decide in advance, and when you calm down, be sure to think over your decision again.
2. Every day, carve out 30 “anti-stress” minutes
When you are under constant stress, it is easy to despair – it seems that you will never be able to think things through properly. Actually, it doesn’t take much time. Relaxing even 30 minutes a day – reading, exercising, walking – you will be able to think much better.
3. Consult with someone more calm
If you have to make decisions under stress, it never hurts to ask for advice. Talk to a trusted friend who will be able to take a calmer and outsider look at the situation and will most likely point out what you are missing.
1. G. Keinan «Decision-making under stress: Scanning of alternatives under controllable and uncontrollable threats». Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987, № 52.