We conducted a deep research review on how acute and chronic conditions impact financial decision-making. The goal was to identify moments in life — like being sick, tired, or stressed — when decisions are likely to be compromised. We pulled from high-quality peer-reviewed studies on conditions like sleep deprivation, high cortisol, depression, ADHD, and neurological illness. The output will serve as a foundation for building self-awareness and red-tape systems around vulnerable decision states.
## How Does Health Impact Our Financial Decisions? Oh boy, have I been on a wild ride lately! I dove deep into the fascinating world of how our health—both physical and mental—can throw a wrench in our financial decision-making. It’s like trying to navigate a maze while wearing a blindfold! I wanted to understand those moments when we’re feeling sick, stressed, or just plain exhausted, and how those states can lead us to make less-than-stellar financial choices. Spoiler alert: it turns out that when we’re not at our best, our wallets can take a hit! During this exploration, I came across some eye-opening research. We pulled from high-quality peer-reviewed studies that examined conditions like sleep deprivation, high cortisol levels, depression, ADHD, and even neurological illnesses. The goal? To pinpoint those vulnerable moments in life when our decision-making might be compromised. And let me tell you, the findings were both enlightening and a little gut-wrenching. ## What Surprised Us About Decision-Making Under Stress One of the biggest surprises was just how much emotional weight this research carried. I found myself reflecting on my own past decisions, and it hit me hard. I’ve had my fair share of moments where I thought, “I want to buy $100 of essential oils and cleaning stuff so when I feel better, I can get straight to cleaning.” But then, the logical side of my brain would chime in, “I don’t want to spend $100 on cleaning stuff when we have cleaning stuff.” It’s like a tug-of-war between impulse and logic, and let me tell you, it’s exhausting! As I sifted through the data, I realized that many of us have a long history of short-sighted financial decisions, often incorrectly evaluating our stability. I found myself nodding along with the research when I thought, “I feel like I have a long history of short-sighted financial decisions, incorrectly evaluating stability…” It was a moment of clarity that made me want to shout, “Yes! I’m not alone in this!” ## How Can We Create a Safety Net for Financial Decisions? So, what do we do with all this knowledge? The answer lies in creating a sort of “red tape” around our financial decisions during those vulnerable times. Imagine having a personal checklist that reminds you when to hit pause on big financial choices. I’m envisioning visual cues or tags for those low-resource days—like when you’re sick, exhausted, or just feeling overstimulated. It’s like giving yourself permission to take a step back and breathe. We’re also working on a structured 48-hour delay system for major financial decisions. This way, when you’re feeling off, you can give yourself the space to think things through. It’s all about building a high-trust evidence base for emotional and strategic red tape. And trust me, this is going to be a game-changer! ## What Worked and What Didn’t in Our Research Journey Now, let’s talk about what worked and what didn’t. The structured research output we created provided a solid scientific grounding for what many of us intuitively know: decisions are worse when health is compromised. Organizing the insights by condition gave me clarity and immediacy. It felt like I was piecing together a puzzle that had been scattered all over the floor! However, the emotional weight of recognizing past decision patterns made this review personally intense. The sheer volume of studies made summarization a bit of a challenge, and I found myself grappling with the tension between causal clarity and the lived nuance of our experiences. Not all patterns are linear, and that’s okay! It’s part of being human. ## What’s Next on This Journey? As I wrap up this checkpoint, I’m buzzing with excitement about the next steps. I can’t wait to create that personal red-tape checklist and design those visual cues for low-resource days. I’m also eager to translate these findings into a shareable post or Notion doc, so we can all benefit from this knowledge. Plus, I’m planning to revisit some of my big financial choices to retroactively audit the decision-state context. It’s like a financial therapy session, and I’m here for it! In the end, this journey has been about more than just research; it’s about understanding ourselves and how we can make better choices. I’m thrilled to keep exploring this topic and share more insights with you all. Until next time, let’s keep building for the change we want to see in the world!
