Posted by Click aquí para leer este post en español
Did you know that a person makes an average of 35,000 decisions daily? How can we make sure we make the right decisions as many times as possible? We tell you the process your brain follows to make decisions and how to maximize the number of correct ones.
As the recently deceased Daniel Kahneman described in his book “Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow” , our brain operates with two different systems:
System 1 works automatically and intuitively; It is our brain’s way of saving energy by automating processes, and it is the system we use in making decisions that we have repeated multiple times, such as driving (when we have been doing it for years), going to known places, recognizing faces, etc. .
System 2, on the other hand, acts deliberately, not automatically. It is the system that comes into play when we find ourselves facing complex problems or new situations.
During our daily activities, our brain constantly alternates both systems, depending on the decision we are faced with at any given moment. This allows us to make those 35,000 decisions without dying trying😉
However, although both systems are necessary, we must be aware of them and try not to constantly prioritize system 1, which is the most convenient for us. Kahneman describes how System 1 often uses mental shortcuts (heuristics) that can lead to systematic errors (biases). These include:
Anchoring: Relying too much on the first information found (the “anchor”) when making decisions. For example, if I am going to buy a car and the first model I see costs €30,000, the following models will seem expensive if they cost more than that or cheap if they cost less.
Availability: Judging the probability of an event based on the ease with which examples come to mind. When we see news about plane accidents, the probability of suffering one of them increases in our minds.
Representativeness: Evaluating similarity and ignoring statistical information, leading to erroneous conclusions. For example, if we meet a quiet person who loves reading, we will imagine that this person is a librarian due to the stereotypes we have about librarians. However, most likely this person has some other profession.
As you can see in the examples, our brain will always try to find the fastest way to a decision, but that decision will not always be the right one. Moreover, technological innovations tend to try to make our lives easier and to spare us the effort of thinking. GPS makes us not make the effort to orient ourselves, having all the knowledge at a click away makes us store less information in our memory, artificial intelligence comes with promises to do almost everything for us, better than we would do it ourselves… in short, our system 2 tends to be used less and less.
How can we then improve our decisions?
The first thing of all, and that is the objective of this article, is to be aware of the existence of these two systems. Once we know its existence, we have to reinforce our system 2, which is the one that is hindered by system 1.
Meditation is an excellent way to gain awareness and avoid biased or hasty decisions. In this article we explain the benefits of meditation and how to get started in this fantastic practice.
Consciously getting involved in activities that are difficult or uncomfortable for us will help us keep our system in shape and alert. 2. Learn a new language, start practicing a new sport, learn to play a musical instrument, do puzzles, crosswords, solve enigmas… are activities that will require the involvement of our system 2 and will keep it in shape. If you don’t have time to do any of this, try watching your favorite series in the original language with subtitles. This will help you a lot. And not only that; As we explain in this article , doing things that we don’t feel like doing but that we know are good for us will make our mid-cingulate cortex grow and with it, our willpower.
How can we use this information to improve our health and fitness?
Systems 1 and 2 can help us improve our health and physique through decision making.
- Always try to train at the same time and in the same place . After a few sessions, your brain will automate this process and assume that, when it comes time to train, it’s time to train. Acquiring this habit will not be a matter of one day or two, but over time it is achieved.😉
- Instead, try to plan meals as much as possible. When you allow your brain to choose what to eat “automatically,” it will choose high-calorie foods with high levels of sugar and fat. This phenomenon was described very well by Dr. Robert Lustig in his book “ The hacking of “the American mind ”. A HIGHLY recommended reading!!
So, Life Warriors, we once again encourage you to take control of your minds and make conscious decisions. Without a doubt that will help you improve in any area of life.
