Making Better Decisions on Shutdowns

Have you noticed how often ‘bad’ decisions are made on a shutdown? And then a week later, you wonder: “what was I thinking? It was not the best solution.”

It is a well known fact that your IQ or brain capacity is lowered by stress. Add to that very little sleep, a diet hyped up on caffeine and junk food, and you have the perfect recipe for poor decisions!

How then do you make better decisions? By planning ahead of course, equip yourself before the time. Start with hydration! You need to drink lots of water before and during the shutdown. Maintaining a well hydrated body, means a well hydrated mind. Secondly, look at your diet. Instead of eating junk food, rather snack on nuts, seeds and dried fruit to help with sustainable levels of energy vs a blood sugar rollercoaster. And lastly, breathe. When the next crisis comes up, before making a decision (if safe to do so), remove yourself from the situation for a few minutes and just breathe. Use the 5-5-7 breathing technique to calm yourself before making a decision. Breathe in for 5 counts, hold for 5, breathe out for 7. Do this several times, while you clear your mind.

Then, go back into the situation and make a decision.

You will be amazed at the difference these 3 steps can make.

"Hydrate, Eat Well and Breathe" - Vicky

It is not the only solution to a better decision making state of mind during shutdown, but a simple place to start.

Written by Vicky, Asset Optimisation's Health & Wellness Coach