Impulsive decision-making is rational human behavior. Not every sudden decision landed me in jail. Some spur-of-the-moment urges can be good, but acting before thinking can destroy chances for achieving life’s long-term goals. Sometimes, it’s the “little” quick decisions that can, because of unintended consequences, cause as much grief as the major ones.

Relationships are one area in life were acting quickly without thinking ahead can be too easy.  One impulsive “relationship decision” can put me in a hole that I can’t easily climb out of. I always look for the wrong attributes in a potential partner. Now I’ve changed my approach by saying to myself, “If we can’t carry on a conversation after sex, don’t go there in the first place.” This so far has served me well.

Before starting any relationship, make a conscious decision to take your time. If you are committed from the start to taking things slowly, you are far less likely to regret impulsive moves.

Hasty decisions for an alcoholic, like hanging out with the wrong crowd, could turn out badly. We all want to feel wanted and loved but need to watch who we associate with. We should have similar interests, or at least the other person should be someone to learn from.

Money is one of the easiest areas where impulsive decisions can get me in serious trouble. Debt is no joke when it can follow me wherever I go and take decades to pay off. Before making a purchase, I can ask myself if the item is a legitimate need or just another want. If it is actually a want rather than a need, I give myself time to think about it. I say, “If I really want this tomorrow, then I can come back.”

Credit cards make it dangerously easy to give in to impulsive shopping urges that can ultimately ruin me financially. Do I need as many credit cards as I may have? Am I putting things on the card just because I can? If so, I resolve to use cash as much as possible. If the money isn’t available for the must-have, the answer is I should wait until I have the finance.

We live in a very abundant society, and it’s not hard to decide if I want something to eat or drink in the spur of the moment. It smells and looks good; suddenly, it’s in the shopping cart or on my plate. My strategy for countering the urge to make that impulse purchase is to ask myself whether my body needs the dessert I want to buy—and the answer is always no.

Whether I like it or not, one key to a happy, successful life is the ability to stick to a schedule so I can reach my goals and not just randomly let impulses dictate my time. This is where impulsivity can get in the way, and not for the better. I can make a schedule and vow to stick with it.

Having a healthy sense of self can give me an idea of how much work is needed to change my impulsive habits. Some are more impulsive than others, and I can change if I know I’m prone to making hasty decisions without much thought. My suggestion was to map out the areas where it’s a real issue in my life.  Also, I need to identify situations where I’m most likely to make impulsive decisions. If I know what social situations are where I’m the most impulsive, I can commit to being more careful.

Impulsivity makes it not only hard to have a functional life; it’s also a sign that I could have a mental health condition such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Bipolar Disorder. If, when looking at my impulses, there is a pattern of regular impulsive decisions, I must seek appropriate mental health guidance or treatment.

For most of us, impulsive decisions stem directly from getting caught up in what we want right now without thinking ahead, never thinking about the potential consequences. 

How often have you had the reflective thought, “It seemed like a good idea at the time?”