Why We Make Bad Decisions

Photo courtesy Flickr user armadillo444

On the weekends I like to take it easy and not cook. Ever. Thus why I have such deeply rooted eating habits that revolve around a variety of different foods. Yesterday I found myself hungry and out of options. Peruvian Chicken? Had it on Saturday. Kebobs? Had it on Friday. As I tried to think what I could possibly eat that was nearby I quickly settled on Five Guys. I was so excited to bring home the greasy paper bag of food. I ordered a little hamburger and a regular side of Cajun fries. Those that have enjoyed Five Guys know that a regular side of fries is ridiculously big and as I poured them from the bag into a bowl I quickly realized what kind of mess I got myself into.

However I was starving and I quickly dug into my meal. One burger and many fries later I was on my couch feeling the full effects of my choices. Did I really need to eat ALL of those fries? Maybe I should of gone to Subway instead. If one was to consult the nutritional information of my meal, you would come to the same conclusion that I have: I made a bad decision.

Fast food does that to you- have you ever eaten at McDonalds and thought, “you know what? That was a great idea.” No you always feel a little bit unsatisfied, a little bit guilty. These aren’t newly discovered facts, too many of us eagerly walk into these establishments knowing what is to come. So why do we do it then? Because we are hungry.

When you haven’t had anything to eat all day, you stop thinking about what you should or shouldn’t do and instead focus on what you can do to quickly and easily fix it. It’s why you shouldn’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you think too much about what you want and not about what you really need.

So why did I make a bad decision last night? Because I was hungry and I wanted something to eat. I write this post because it easily translates to why we make all sorts of bad decisions.

It’s amazing what you’ll do when you are hungry.

Related posts:

1. Grillin’ In The City
2. Fool Me Once: Strike One. Fool Me Twice: Strike Three.
3. 10 Things That Have Changed In Your Post College Life
4. A Win And Fail At Customer Relationships At Hair Cuttery
5. Learning To Say No