Managing Impulsivity

What does it mean?

Not rushing in, giving yourself time to evaluate a situaution or think through options. Taking time to make the right decision and not giving in to your desires to do the first thing that pops into your mind. 

Why does it matter?

Sometimes our first instinct is right but if we rush in and make a snap decision we never have the chance to consider the alternatives. It is important to check that you have fully understood the situation before you respond, check your thinking, ask questions, look at things differently.

When should you use it?

Whenever you have the time to take your time and often even when you need to think quickly. Watch an expert deal with an emergency situation, they don't rush in, they evaluate what is happening, think through how they will act and then put their plan into action. 

In class Managing Impulsivity can involve managing the temptation to be distracted or be a distraction. Managing your impulses to call out, or chat, or fidget can help you get the most from your learning.

An example:

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus & Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin , surly Lord Macintosh  and cantankerous Lord Dingwall  Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch  for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to change the way that she thinks in order to discover the meaning of true bravery and undo a beastly curse before it's too late.

5 Top Strategies: 

1. Slow down, give yourself time to think
2. Make a list of options and evaluate each before you decide
3. Check your thinking, check your working, check your editing
4. Ask a friend, is this a good idea?
5. Consider the consequences. Yes it will be great, now, but later???

5 Questions to ask about your thinking: 

1. What makes you think option A is best? Why not option B?
2. What are the consequences and costs of each option?
3. Why are you rushing? 
4. The advantage of avoiding this distraction is . . .
5. Have you checked your thinking?

Thinking Routines for Managing Impulsivity

1. What makes you say that? - Explain why you have arrived at a solution or idea. This routine forces you to explain and justify your thinking
2. Think, Puzzle, Explore - What do you think you know about this topic? What questions or puzzles do you have? How can you explore this topic?
3. Claim, Support, Question - make a claim about the topic. Identify support for your claim. Ask questions about your claim that explore what isn't explained, what new issues does your claim raise? Useful to use with a friend asking the questions.
4. Stop, Look, Listen - Stop - Be clear about the claim. Define your question from your list of facts and uncertainties. Look - Find your sources. Consider obvious and non-obvious places. Listen - HEAR what the sources tell you with an open mind. Is it possible your source is biased and how does this affect your information/conclusions?
5. Does it Fit? - A strategy for evaluating options by applying a clear criteria, a chance to slow down and evaluate your choices and options. As you apply each criteria keep the ideas that are consistently the best fit. Does the option Fit the ideal Solution? Does the option Fit the Criteria? Does the option Fit the Situation? Does the option Fit you Personally? Combine with 'What makes you say that?' for even more considered decision-making.

Thinking Routines adapted from Harvard's 'Visible Thinking Resource Book'