Have you ever been hungover after a big night and groggily declared, “I’m never drinking again”. How did that go for you?
Have you ever gone shopping when hungry, with the best intention of stocking up with healthy food, only to come away with bags full of questionable snacks?
Ever responded to an irksome email when you’re angry or upset? How did that work out?
There was a study, (discussed in Daniel Kahneman’s excellent book ‘Thinking Fast and Slow) that showed the worst possible time to be in front of a judge for a parole hearing, (and the same might be true for your performance review, or that conversation about a pay increase) is when they are tired and hungry, just before snack and lunch breaks.
These are all fundamentally examples of decision making in a sub-optimal state. One technical term for this is ‘Ego Depletion’, which looks at control and willpower as a limited pool, which when depleted lowers mental activity and impairs self-control.
Put in simpler terms. If you’re not in your best state, whatever that means for you, the quality of your decisions is likely to be worse.
You may not have realised it at the time — but there is a direct link between that new year’s resolution to live a healthier, cleaner, less boozy, less sugar-laden, more mindful existence and better decisions making. Kudos!
So check in with your body next time you’re about to make a decision, “am I in my best physical state right now?” Would it be better to wait until you’ve had a healthy snack, taken a nap, gone for a walk or sat to meditate for a few minutes?
Your future self might thank you.