Tip of the week: Four aids to making tough decisions

Ask your polar opposite. Try consulting a colleague who consistently thinks differently than you, says Sandra Tsing Loh, host of radio’s The Loh Down on Science. You’ll see any problem from new angles.

Procrastinate. Quick decisions rob us of the time to cogitate, says Frank Partnoy, author of Wait: The Art and Science of Delay. When facing a choice, determine how long you can wait to render a verdict, then make the call when that moment arrives.

Drink up. Down some water about 45 minutes before you shop for a major item, says Mirjam Tuk, a U.K. marketing professor. “It sounds strange,” but people have more self-control when holding their urine.

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Close your eyes. Blocking out visual stimuli, says behavioral psychologist Eugene Caruso, intensifies emotional responses and promotes more ethical decisions.

Source: Real Simple