Second Cup: Wait a minute

Consensus doesn't necessarily maximize happiness.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,
This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
tip is to slow things down to help you make
better decisions. So, if you have ever gone through a

(00:26):
bad breakup, your friends may have encouraged you to call
them first before you call or text your ex. They
are not telling you to never talk to that person again.
They are in just encouraging you to slow the process
down and connect with a trusted friend first before you

(00:49):
do anything hasty. In a similar vein, some people impose
a seventy two hour rule on themselves for big ticket purchases.
That is, they commit to waiting seventy two hours after
deciding to make a purchase above a certain amount before
actually making that purchase. That way, they can be confident

(01:14):
that it is a good idea. There is a lot
to be said for protocols like these that slow things
down so we can make decisions that will serve us
well in the long term, not just ones that feel
good in the moment. Sometimes we don't actually need to
exercise more self discipline to make better decisions. All we

(01:36):
need to do is delay. So today, consider this. Are
there areas of your life where it might be helpful
for you to purposefully slow things down. If you are
trying to eat or drink or spend less, or to
eat or spend differently, Rather than imposing rules on what

(02:00):
you'll do, instead, try imposing a delay. It might be
just as effective but might not lead to you feeling deprived. So,
for instance, if you tend to overeat when you are
having a special meal, perhaps you could decide not to
get seconds immediately after your first serving. You may find

(02:25):
that after waiting ten minutes or so, you don't actually
want another slice of pumpkin pie, and if you do
want a slice, you will know that was a mindful choice,
so you can really savor the treat. Similarly, you might
decide not to accept more soda or whine when it's
offered to you until the glass you have is completely empty.

(02:49):
By the time that happens, lunch or dinner may be over,
or you may realize you've had enough. Everyone has different temptations,
so think about situations in your life when you are
most likely to make impulsive choices that you aren't always
happy about. After, think about whether you could develop a

(03:14):
rule to delay despite what that retailer might be saying
they will probably still have that item in stock tomorrow.
And for anything that truly does sell out in ten minutes,
hopefully you knew enough ahead of time so you could
make a mindful decision about whether it was something you

(03:34):
truly wanted. When we slow things down, we increase the
chances that we will make a decision that isn't just
good for the moment, but feels truly right in the meantime.
This is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making

(03:57):
the most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to
hear from you. You can send me your tips, your questions,
or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook,
and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. That's b E the

(04:18):
number four then Breakfast pod. You can also shoot me
an email at Before Breakfast Podcasts at iHeartMedia dot com.
That before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.
Thanks so much, should I look forward to staying in touch.

(04:38):
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