Many of my clients say that when they are tired they are more likely to impulsively do what they feel like doing instead of what they know they should be doing.ĭeveloping healthy sleep hygiene habits is no easy task for many of us, but has its rewards in the long run.
#Impulsive decisions movie
A tired, foggy brain has a harder time “playing the movie forward” and making a clear, conscious choice. Insufficient sleep is another factor that contributes to impulsivity. Taking on more than we can handle is a recipe for disaster and can skyrocket our stress level.
#Impulsive decisions how to
One of my favorite tips for stress management is learning how to say no. For those of you who think that you can’t meditate because it’s just too hard to sit still, try walking on a treadmill and simply focus on your breathing, letting thoughts come and go, but always bringing your mind back to your breath. Meditation is another excellent stress-buster.
Exercise has long been recommended as an excellent way to de-stress, and in my opinion is one of the best for alleviating worry and regulating mood swings. I find that hitting the pause button and remembering to breathe and calm down is always a good start. There are many good books and courses on stress management and I would recommend that everyone with ADHD get some solid stress management tools in their toolbox. I know from personal experience that on a stressful day I will spin in circles, lose something, and oft en make terribly impulsive decisions if I don’t pause and do what is needed to take care of my stress. Stress is the number one factor that I see exacerbate any ADHD symptom. A spontaneous decision gives some thought to the outcome.Īside from having ADHD and being hotwired to act impulsively, what factors contribute to impulsivity? And what can we do to reduce our natural tendency to lose restraint of pen and tongue or act too quickly? Before making a spontaneous decision, we check our calendar or to-do list to see if there is something else that needs to take priority. Spontaneity, on the other hand, is pausing to “play the movie forward” to think about any possible consequences for others or for ourselves. Yet in reality the actions we take are poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, unduly risky or inappropriate, and result in undesirable consequences. We are too quick to jump the gun on what we think in the moment is a very good idea. Impulsive behavior is always characterized by little or no forethought.
What is impulsivity and how does it differ from spontaneity? Most of us like being spontaneous, yet we often end up acting or speaking impulsively, regretting the results. Impulsivity can cause accidents, inefficiency, poor performance reviews at work, and adversely affect treasured relationships. MOST OF US CRINGE WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD IMPULSIVITY, as it brings to mind what our impulsive decisions or behaviors have resulted in.