You’ve probably heard the advice, “Don’t grocery shop on an empty stomach.” It’s a simple idea, but it’s based on sound facts. When you’re hungry, you’re more likely to make unhealthy food choices and overspend. Here’s why this effective advice makes sense:
- When you’re hungry, your cravings are stronger. Your blood sugar levels drop when you haven’t eaten, making you crave unhealthy foods like sugary drinks, processed snacks, and junk food.
- Hunger can impair your judgment. When you’re hungry, you’re less likely to carefully consider your food choices. You’re also more likely to be impulsive and buy things you don’t really need.
- Hunger can make you spend more money. Studies have found that hungry shoppers spent more money than less-hungry shoppers, even after controlling for other factors like mood and time spent in the store.
Other Straightforward Effective Advice
Here are some other sensible and straightforward pieces of advice that align with the direction to not grocery shop when you’re hungry:
Don’t make financial decisions when you’re stressed:
Avoid making financial decisions during moments of stress, as stress can cloud your judgment and increase the likelihood of making irrational choices.
Imagine you’re really stressed about money. You decide to borrow money at a high-interest rate without checking other options. Later, when you’re calm, you realize it wasn’t the smartest choice, but stress made you do it.
Don’t eat when you’re bored:
When you have nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, you might start snacking mindlessly on salty chips and savory cookies simply because boredom triggers those cravings. However, the consequence of this boredom-induced snacking can lead to unwanted weight gain and a less healthy diet overall.
To tackle boredom-driven overeating and unhealthy snacking, try engaging in a hobby, walking, or reading a book instead of reaching for snacks. This way, you can avoid gaining unwanted weight and keep a healthier diet, and if you really want to snack on something, choose something healthy.
Don’t post on social media when you’re angry:
Saying things you’ll regret later is common when you’re angry, so it’s wise to pause and cool off before posting anything online.
For example, you might feel furious after a heated argument with a friend and want to vent on social media. Instead, you should wait until you’ve calmed down to avoid saying something hurtful or impulsive, which could damage your relationship further.
Remember, someone could screenshot your message online even after you deleted your unintentional social post.
Don’t send emails when you’re upset:
For the same reason, don’t post on social media when angry; waiting until you’ve calmed down before sending important emails is best.
Don’t make sound decisions when you’re feeling overwhelmed:
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s difficult to think clearly and make sound decisions.
Picture this: you’re swamped with work and feeling stressed. In that frazzled state, you might say yes to extra tasks without thinking, only to regret it later.
The fix? Step back, prioritize, take a deep breath to clear your thinking. Once you feel less overwhelmed, you might able to make intelligent choices.
Final thoughts:
These pieces of effective advice are all based on the same common-sense principle: that our emotions can influence our behavior negatively.
By being aware of our emotions and managing our feelings, we can make better decisions in all areas of our lives. Do you agree?
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