Avoid Making Decisions Late at Night: The Risks Explained
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Chapter 1: The Perils of Nighttime Decision-Making
Someone recently shared a thought on X: "never trust how you feel about your life after 9 PM." This resonates with many, as nighttime often amplifies our worries and fears. In the stillness of the night, we may find our anxieties growing disproportionately, leading us to dwell on past interactions or future uncertainties, which can intensify our emotional state.
We might replay old conversations in our minds, analyzing every detail and convincing ourselves that we made mistakes or appeared foolish. Our ability to regulate emotions can diminish, making it easier to succumb to negative feelings.
This brings us to the concept of the "Mind After Midnight." Research indicates that staying awake late can adversely affect our brain, increasing the likelihood of poor decision-making and skewed perceptions of reality.
According to Andrew Tubbs from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, "The Mind after Midnight hypothesis suggests that insufficient sleep can lead to poor choices when our bodies are signaling it's time to rest." A recent study published in Frontiers in Network Psychology supports this, indicating that reasons for nocturnal wakefulness—such as insomnia or stress—can lead to heightened vigilance and diminished emotional control, further impairing decision-making capabilities.
By the end of a long day, we may feel both mentally and emotionally drained, leading to a distorted view of our circumstances. Fatigue can magnify negative emotions and create fleeting unhappiness, influencing our overall perspective on life. Additionally, our bodies tend to produce more dopamine at night, which can alter our motivation and heighten the risk of engaging in reckless behavior.
As our viewpoint narrows, the potential for making poor choices increases significantly.
Don’t Make Decisions at Night
You may feel like a different person at night compared to the morning. While nighttime might inspire motivation and excitement, dawn often brings a sense of lethargy. Many experience this shift in mood and energy levels as day transitions into night.
Morning typically showcases optimal brain function, while nighttime often corresponds to diminished cognitive capacity. Although the evening might seem like a time for liberation from routine, mornings are crucial for productivity and focus.
If you identify as a night owl, your emotions may heavily influence your decisions. Avoid being misled by the fleeting thoughts that surface during the night. Therefore, mornings are the most suitable time for making significant choices.
In research conducted by Argentinian psychologist María Juliana Leone and her colleagues, they discovered that decision-making abilities fluctuate throughout the day. Morning decisions tend to be slower yet more accurate, while late-day choices may be made hastily and with less precision.
By studying 100 elite online chess players, they found that players performed differently based on their natural tendencies towards morning or night. While there wasn't a specific hour that guaranteed efficient decision-making, the research indicates that the timing does alter the decision-making process.
The researchers concluded, "In the morning, players tend to adopt a prevention strategy, taking their time and making precise decisions. Conversely, in the evening, players often resort to a riskier approach, making quicker but less accurate choices."
Personally, I believe that the nighttime should be reserved for creativity, self-reflection, and quality time with loved ones. As Wiz Khalifa wisely stated, "Never make permanent decisions on temporary feelings."
References:
Chapter 2: The Importance of Timing in Decision-Making
The first video titled "I Don't Trust My Husband - Empowered Wife Podcast with Laura Doyle EP# 188 - YouTube" explores themes of trust and decision-making in relationships, offering insights into how our feelings can affect our choices.
The second video, "Accept Yourself and Release Resistance Sleep Meditation with Delta Waves - YouTube," provides relaxation techniques that may help in achieving emotional balance and better decision-making, particularly during stressful nights.
© 2023 by Afiani Rui
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