Sleep on It
Delay important decisions to let emotions settle and subconscious process.
Explanation
Our emotional state heavily influences decisions, but emotions are temporary while decisions often have lasting consequences. Time allows intense feelings to fade and gives your subconscious mind a chance to process information. Many breakthrough insights come after stepping away from the problem.
Real-World Example
Angry email: Writing it feels great, but sending it ruins relationships. Save as draft overnight—you'll often delete it. Job offer: Initial excitement or fear shouldn't drive such a major decision. Sleep on it, then reassess with clearer thinking. Major purchases: '24-hour rule' prevents impulse buying you'll regret.
How to Apply
For emotional decisions: mandatory 24-48 hour delay. For major decisions: at least a week. During waiting period: don't research more (that's just analysis paralysis). Do something completely different. Let your subconscious work. Notice which option you're secretly hoping for. Trust your gut after emotions have settled.