Maximize Your Reaction Time

In sports we are often encouraged to react as quickly as possible; the quicker and more agile we move, the higher likelihood we will win the game. In life, fast reaction times are associated with good outcomes. The faster we start investing the faster our money can benefit from compound interest. The sooner we get a new job we the sooner we can make more money. However, sometimes it pays wait as long as possible before reacting.

So when should we maximize our reaction time? Any time we are responding to an event where there are emotions involved. Whenever we feel angry, resentful, envious, or any other troubling emotion, we should wait before responding. This seems like common sense but we fall prey to our emotions all the time. I bicker with my wife, lose patience with my daughter, and get upset at strangers. The problem is that I respond to events too quickly without detaching and allowing myself to cool down.

The solution is simple but not always easy. We can remove ourselves physically from the situation, breathe deeply for a few seconds, or recite a mantra in our minds to remember to not react.

"...perspective comes with time...the longer you can resist reacting, the more mental space you have for actual reflection, and the stronger your mind will become." -Robert Greene

Maximizing our reaction time will help us make better decisions that support ourselves and our relationships with others.

References

Greene, Robert. 2019. The Laws of Human Nature. Penguin USA.