Whether it’s clothes, cars, dinners or homes we all buy things, say things and do things we regret.  So why do we do it and what can we do to prevent it?

There are two basic reasons why we make impulsive decisions:

1. Genetics - About 1 in 4 people have an impulsive gene that makes them much more likely to develop ADHD, gamble, smoke, start new businesses and become the occasional 14-time Olympic gold medal winner (that’s Michael Phelps in case you’ve been in a coma.)
2. Emotions - This is where most of us get screwed. Emotional situations can send an ordinary penny-pincher home from the car lot with a hot rod. 

Feelings of excitement, frustration or anxiety are the canaries in your coal mine. When your palms sweat or your cheeks get rosy, LOOK OUT! You’re on the verge of making a really bone-headed decision unless you do something to stop it. 

Tune into your emotions

Take note of what you are feeling and doing as a situation unfolds so you can learn to harness your impulses.  Ignoring emotions doesn’t make them magically disappear, it just makes the cloud your judgment when you least expect it.

Would you tell your friend to do it?

Once you get good at sniffing out your emotions as you feel them, evaluate them objectively. Try picturing the current situation in your head as if it were happening to someone else. If this were your pal prepping to blow his paycheck on the latest iGadget or call his ex for the 7th time this hour, would you recommend a cold shower first? Take your own advice.

Self-awareness doesn’t happen overnight so remind yourself to practice the first strategy every day for a month, and then work on #2. After a couple of months, you’ll notice that it’s much easier to detect logic-clouding emotions. Acknowledge those feelings. Make peace with them. Make better decisions.