Gut Feeling: 4 Tips to Help You Decide When to Trust Your Gut

A gut feeling (or intuition) is an immediate physical response you feel that suggests the best decision when presented with two or more choices. Common sensations associated with a gut feeling include a sinking feeling or butterflies in your stomach, sweaty palms, prickling on your neck, goose bumps, muscle tightness or tension, increased heart rate, or an overwhelming sense of calm or clarity. In scientific terms, gut feelings come from the enteric nervous system, a web of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract that some neuroscientists call the “second brain.”

It can be difficult to decide if you should trust your gut. Here are a few tips to help you gauge if trusting your gut is right for a particular decision-making process:

1. 1. Evaluate your past experience. Research supports that people with extensive experience in a certain field have reliable gut feelings about decisions in that field. If you feel confident you have the intuitive knowledge and experience in a particular situation, your gut is more likely to identify red flags unconsciously and point you in the right direction.
2. 2. Identify any cognitive biases involved. Cognitive biases and prejudice can factor into your gut feeling. For example, you’re more likely to “get a good feeling” about someone (whether a job candidate or a romantic interest) if they’re similar to you in some way. Take a step back from an important decision and see if your gut may be relying on conscious or unconscious biases or anxieties, and then work to overcome those biases for better decisions overall.
3. 3. Note the timeline. A key factor in deciding if you should listen to your gut feeling is how much time you have to act. Determine if this is a situation where you need to respond immediately (for instance, at a busy intersection) or if you have time to bolster your gut feeling with logical rationale (for instance, when deciding to rent an apartment). Avoid rushing to make a decision if you have time to consider the options objectively.
4. 4. Take stock of counterevidence. If you have time to evaluate the situation analytically, consider any contrary evidence that may go against your gut. Consider if this evidence is compelling enough to steer you away and ask yourself what you stand to lose if you regret your decision.

There are a few situations where a gut reaction could pay off, such as when:

1. 1. The timeline is short: Sometimes, a decision requires a split-second call. In cases like these, your gut can be a good way to make a decisive choice for your well-being, avoiding indecision, overthinking, or panic.
2. 2. You have previous experience in the field: In areas of your expertise, you have the benefit of experience to inform your gut feeling, which allows you to take mental shortcuts toward the best choices. If you have a strong feeling in a realm you know well, it can be valuable to make an intuitive decision.
3. 3. You complement it with analytical thinking: In situations where you have time to consider the choice, combine your intuitive feelings with your conscious mind for a well-thought-out decision. If you weigh the pros and cons and each option seems equal, your gut feeling can be a valuable tiebreaker to help you make the best decision.

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