Super summary: If you have a problem to solve you have to sleep on it

Sometimes trusting instinct is harmful. Better stop and make a rational decision. Such as? Not thinking about it more

President Obama prefers to be limited to only two color choices for its clothes: gray or blue. He says he does it deliberately to reduce the number of decisions to make during the day. In doing so, Obama can focus their mental energy on all other major issues that has to deal with.

But even if you're the president of the United States, it is likely that you too will find yourself having to face situations that require difficult decisions to make. When they present themselves during a hectic day at work, often there and then make choices following the impulse of the moment, maybe belly. Okay, most of the time. It is right that a leader will trust their instincts, this makes him much honor. After all, the business world is moving so fast that typically take too long to decide something is a luxury that few can afford.

However, when it comes to making more complicated decisions and can have important consequences, it is essential to take a little break, or "sleep on it", as they say. Over and over again I have seen that when it comes to making big decisions Hootsuite - on some key hiring or fundraising - it is crucial to take a "time out" before making the decisive call.

I also support the research that has been carried out in recent decades in the field of cognitive psychology. I recently spoke with Dr. Justin Davis, a neuroscientist and scientific director of the Brain Fitness Nognz, the value of "sleep on it" in the workplace. When it comes to making highly complex decisions, here are some key points that he may want to consider.

Our brain has two cognitive systems: there's the fastest, primitive, the network of "immediate response" which literally allows us to operate on autopilot. It can be useful when we want to read an article on our smartphones while we drink coffee. And then there is the slowest system, a network of "higher order" that allows us to reason objectively and make rational decisions.

The fastest system can be detrimental to our decision making: by default, guides our general behavior. Quickly puts together pieces of information from the environment around us to make sense of what we have around. But, in doing so, "we do not see important things and makes us fall victim to cognitive biases that cloud our judgment," says Justin. That's why you have to rely on the second cognitive system, the slowest when it comes to making complex decisions.

Move around on the slower system is not easy to avoid the system faster and convey all of the slowest to improve decision "process requires a deliberate effort," says Justin. Resist the temptation to trust their instincts and make impulsive decisions is a form of mental work.

The best way to do this is simply to not make any decision, especially if you are in the following states) when we are tired, hungry, in particular emotional state or if we are frustrated, it is more difficult to press the switch and involve the slower cognitive system. So yes, in front of important decisions, the best way to avoid bias that can affect your judgment is to not take any decisions, at least for a while '. Eat something, you do exercise, meditate or otherwise disconnect the brain. In this way, according to Justin, you can free the mental capital needed to make the best possible decisions.

I can confirm it. I often find the best solutions when I'm not thinking at all to that problem. Very often, in fact, come to mind while I work out, or when I do yoga.

The conclusion? When you are faced with a very complicated decision, on the job, try not to haunt you. Rather, let it mature in your head for a while '. Of course, you will be tempted to want to immediately resolve the issue. But, from personal experience, I can tell you that taking time always pays in the end.

He teaches us the story. More than 100 years ago, the legendary Sigmund Freud said to one of his students: "When making a decision of minor importance, I always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. But in vital matters, the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within us. "

From Wired