Feeling down about yet another poor choice, you scold yourself: “Why do I keep messing up?” Don’t be too hard on yourself; this happens to many people. How about taking a moment to explore 10 tips for handling poor judgment and decision-making? It could be beneficial.
Consider sharing our decisions and judgments with someone we trust for a period of time. We can even talk about them afterward and truly consider their feedback.
A couple of years back, I wrote an article titled “‘Someday I’ll look back at this and laugh.’ Seriously?”
I admitted that I stopped using that phrase because it was a way to avoid confronting some emotional and mental health issues I was reluctant to face.
Top of that list was a track record of poor judgment and decision-making.
I despised it.
Since this is a widespread challenge for anyone coping with emotional or mental illnesses, I felt compelled to offer some strategies in this “part two.” And here’s the revised edition.
Let’s dive in…
Poor judgment and decision-making
Indeed, those of us dealing with emotional or mental health issues might face difficulties with judgment and decision-making.
It’s quite common in our community.
Executive functions
As mentioned in “part one,” judgment and decision-making are part of our executive functions, which operate in the brain’s prefrontal cortex (PFC).
Just to clarify, the cerebral cortex is the brain’s outer layer, measuring two to four millimeters thick, and the PFC makes up one-third of this area.
Prefrontal cortex
Interestingly, the PFC is the last segment of the brain to mature, usually developing in late adolescence. This explains a lot, doesn’t it?
In the realm of emotional and mental health, the PFC is quite active, which can lead to occasional ‘traffic jams’.
When that happens, we might find ourselves making questionable judgments and decisions.
Inattention and impulsivity
Two more executive functions to consider are inattention and impulsivity. Here’s an important point…
If we’re feeling depressed, we might lack the motivation to make sound decisions. Conversely, if we’re anxious, hypomanic, or manic, our heightened state might impede our ability to make wise judgments.
Can you relate to either of these situations?
10 tips for managing poor judgment and decision-making
Now, while poor judgment and decision-making can be ingrained and persistent, there are many strategies we can implement.
Here are 10 tips to consider…
- Recognize that these issues often stem from our emotional and mental health challenges. Understand the reasoning behind them.
- Acknowledge our tendency to make poor decisions. While doing so, also accept the realities of our situation.
- For a while, discuss potential decisions and judgments with a trusted individual. After the decisions are made, reflect on their feedback sincerely.
- Compile a list of poor choices and decisions made over the last month. Consider the insights of the trusted person in your evaluations.
- Next to each noted decision in #4, note how our emotional or mental health played a role and what steps we can take to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
- Steer clear of hasty decisions. Take a moment to evaluate options before arriving at a conclusion.
- Celebrate when we make a positive decision or judgment call. Recognize how we achieved this and the positive feelings it produced.
- Evaluate our levels of inattention and impulsivity (refer to #6). If they may pose risks, focus on addressing and monitoring them.
- Reduce stress by engaging in healthy lifestyle practices – including exercise, relaxation, nutrition, and quality sleep.
- Believe in your ability to transform your history of judgment and decision-making — because you can.
What are your thoughts? You can surely think of more suggestions.
Really?
Are you fed up with criticizing yourself with “Why do you keep messing up?” after yet another poor decision?
If yes, cut it out.
First, learn to accept your “quirky” executive functions. Whether it’s through the 10 tips I shared or another approach, start making changes.
Just imagine, it all began with “Someday I’ll look back at this and laugh.”
Really?
For the complete story, don’t forget to check out part one: “Someday I’ll look back at this and laugh.” Seriously?
And those informative titles on emotional and mental health from Chipur are waiting for you.
Prefrontal cortex image: public domain. Authors: Natalie M. Zahr, PhD, and Edith V. Sullivan, PhD.
After a long struggle with panic, generalized anxiety, fluctuating moods, and alcohol dependency, Bill discovered his true passion — helping others facing similar challenges. At 49, he returned to school and obtained his counseling credentials, continuing his service through Chipur and other initiatives.