节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-04-06
难易度:High
关键字:conserve, repair, drain, temptation, denominator
OK. I hope you all had a great break.
Decisions sometimes are tough.
We have limited information and a limited amount of time.
There's no guarantee that our choices will turn out to be the best choice.
Even so, there are ways we can increase our odds of making good decisions.
Let's pick up the reading on line 12 and look at the third tip for making the
best decision possible, Sleep on it.
(Music).
Decision Fatigue.
Sleep on it.
Trying to decide on something like a new apartment or car can be draining.
As with any major financial agreement, it's best to sleep on it before making
any final decisions.
Shop with a list.
Marketers long ago figured out that a customer's willpower is low after deciding
on one grocery item after another.
That's why candy and other snacks are always located at the checkout counter.
Avoid temptation by always shopping with a list and sticking to it.
Know yourself.
Baumeister shared a final common denominator among those who avoid decision
fatigue.
"The best decision-makers are the ones who know when not to trust themselves,"
he said.
So far our tips to avoid decision fatigue are making your mornings count and to
avoid crises.
Well, our next tip is to Sleep on it.
Sleep on it.
If someone says, "Go home and sleep on it," they mean there's a decision to be
made but you should take some time.
Get a good night's rest and maybe make the decision the next day.
Trying to decide on something like a new apartment or buying a car can be
draining.
Now we see the word "draining" here.
That means to be made tired, to make something more tired.
And as we know, decision fatigue comes from lots of energy being used.
So that's what draining would mean here.
That's right.
It drains your energy.
Well, as with any major financial agreement, it's best to sleep on it before
making any final decisions.
Get a good night's rest, Kaylah, before making those big decisions.
That's right.
If you're... Brandon, if you're looking at a new apartment, you're really
excited about it.
And you think it's what you want.
Make sure you sleep on it for one night just to make sure that the decision
sounds the same for you in the morning that you've taken time to think about it.
This is a great idea because in the morning, we know, your mind is fresher.
That's true.
Well, next we need to "Shop with a list." Make a list before going out shopping.
This will help you to make better decisions.
This is actually a brilliant tip because then you don't have to make as many
decisions.
You decide ahead of time.
You know what you need.
And then you're not in the market or wherever thinking about a lot.
That's right.
And sometimes if you don't make a list, you will buy many things that you
probably don't need.
Well, marketers long ago figured out that a customer's willpower is low after
deciding on one grocery item after another.
So you can imagine, Kaylah, someone going to the grocery store without a list,
and they're thinking about all of the different things they need.
And then by the end, they're tired.
And they go by... you know, the donut aisle or whatever, and they think, "That
looks good," and they grab that too.
And they start making really poor decisions.
Well, Brandon, even with the list, we're still making decisions: Which brand do
you want? What size bottle are you looking for?
But marketers (people that sell) already know this:
that one after another, (That means consistently making a decision; 1, 2, 3, we
say that's one after another,) our decision-making skills, our willpower is
lower.
But we also know that marketers, they're smart.
And that's why candy and other snacks are always located at the checkout
counter.
Because you've made so many decisions, by the time you get to the checkout
counter, you think that Snickers Bar looks delicious.
Yes. So avoid temptation by always shopping with a list and sticking to it.
So don't just shop with a list, but use the list correctly.
Don't add to the list as you walk.
Use only what's on that list.
That's right.
We have the word here "temptation." You're tempted to do something.
It's something you really don't need, but you really want it.
Well, if you don't have enough willpower, you're going to give in to that
temptation.
That's right.
And when you stick to something, that means you don't change away from it.
Well, that tip is our Information Station, so let's visit Bill and Bryan.
This week Bruce in Keelung writes:
Dear Bill and Bryan, I'm in a coffee shop right now, and I need your help.
I have so many decisions.
Hot coffee or iced coffee?
Milk or no milk?
How much sugar should I add?
Please help.
I can't decide.
Well, Bill, I think Bruce has a case of decision fatigue.
We need to help him.
You're right, Bryan.
And there's no time to lose, let's go to...
Information Station.
So, how exactly are we going to help Bruce, Bill?
Well, that's easy, Bryan.
We will call upon the wisdom of our friendly colleague, Tango Bear.
Tango Bear makes decisions?
Of course he does.
Tango Bear has made decisions about such important matters as like choosing a
college, buying a house and buying a car.
Hey, he does sound very experienced.
Let's learn some of his wisdom.
Well, to start with, Tango Bear make sure... makes sure he has plenty of sleep
before making his decisions.
That sounds like a good idea.
Maybe Bruce in Keelung needs more sleep before making his coffee choices.
That's right, Bryan.
More sleep.
Tango Bear also avoids crises by taking care of things sooner rather than later,
like taking bills... or paying bills and making repairs.
Hmm, I'm not sure, though, Bill, that these things will help Bruce very much.
And Tango Bear knows that his willpower will be tested in a large grocery store,
so he always makes a list before he goes.
Now that's an excellent idea.
And maybe Bruce can apply this one.
Yes.
Bruce, if you're still waiting in the coffee shop, order the black coffee, extra
sugar.
And remember, Bruce, write down your order before you go to buy your coffee.
Then you won't have to think about it.
And we'll see you next time here at...
Information Station.
Well, our last tip for this PSYCHOLOGY article is Know yourself.
And Baumeister shared a final common denominator among those who avoid decision
fatigue.
What is a common "denominator," Kaylah?
Well, we see our word is denominator, but we're going to do that as a phrase.
"A common denominator" means something that everyone in a group has in common.
So they have the same thing.
So for example, Brandon, all of the Studio Classroom teachers all live in
Taiwan.
We have that.
That is our common denominator.
Very good explanation.
Well, we see that the best decision-makers are the ones who know when not to
trust themselves.
And this is what Baumeister says.
So we see here that you have to know when not to trust yourself.
You have to know that you're tired, you shouldn't make a decision.
I think this is a very good point, Kaylah.
That's right.
You know, we think, "Oh, I know who I am," but make sure you understand how you
make decisions so you can make better ones in the future.
Well, it's time for us to visit the Chat Room.
This is a big decision, Joe, so you should definitely take your time.
Just sleep on it and decide what to do in the morning.
OK.
Bye.
Hey, Bryan, what was that about?
My friend Joe is thinking of buying a new car, and he asked for my advice.
He found one that he likes, but it's really expensive.
Yeah. I've had to make decisions like that before.
What did you tell him to do?
I said he should sleep on it and make a decision tomorrow.
Sleep on it?
But it's a car, not a bed.
How can sleeping on top of the car help him decide?
No, Ken. I didn't mean that he should sleep on top of the car.
Let's have Studio Classroom Editor-in-Chief Doris explain what this means.
OK.
The idiom "sleep on it" means to wait for a while before making an important
decision like making a big purchase or choosing a college.
Usually, it means getting a full-night's sleep and deciding on something the
next day, hoping that time and rest will help you make a good decision.
OK. Now I have another question for you.
What does sleeping on something have to do with sleeping over something, like
sleeping over a friend's house?
You left out a word there, Ken.
The phrase is sleeping over "at" someone's house.
And it means spending the night with someone in their home.
Oh. So it doesn't relate to sleeping on something?
No, it doesn't.
But there is a noun form of that saying.
A "sleepover" is a party where children or teenagers spend the night at each
other's houses.
OK. Well, I hope that once your friend sleeps on it, he'll make a good decision
about the car.
Yeah, I hope so too.
(Chinese).
(Chinese).
And we're running out of time.
I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
There's a new phrase in the world of psychology called "decision fatigue." It
states that each time we make a decision,
we use some of our willpower which exists in a limited daily supply.
The good news is you can learn to adapt your habits and daily routines to
conserve your willpower,
thereby, increasing your chances of making better choices.
OK, friends, make a good decision.
And join us tomorrow when we learn how we can stop poisoning our bodies.
Until then, take care.
Bye-bye.