Breaking into My Own House: Lessons on Stress and Preparation

Context of the Story

• Occurred in Montreal winter at midnight
• Temperature was -40 degrees (same in Celsius and Fahrenheit)
• Visiting friend Jeff, returned home without keys

Immediate Actions

• Saw keys inside through the window
• Tried all other entrances but they were locked
• Options:
  • Call a locksmith (long wait and cold temperature)
  • Go back to Jeff's house (needed items for an early morning flight)
• Desperation led to breaking the basement window

Neuroscientific Insight

• Cortisol Release: Under stress, cortisol is released, raising heart rate, modulating adrenaline, and clouding thinking
• Consequences:
  • The next morning, clouded thinking led to forgetting passport
  • Rushed back home to get it, missed initial flight seat assignment

Concept of Prospective Hindsight (Pre-mortem)

• Discussed idea over dinner with colleague Danny Kahneman
• Originated from psychologist Gary Klein
  • Post-mortem: Analyze what went wrong after a disaster
  • Pre-mortem: Anticipate potential failures and put systems in place to prevent or minimize damage

Practical Applications

Home Organization

• Designate specific spots for easily lost items
  • Utilize the hippocampus for spatial memory
  • Example: Keys on a hook by the door, passport in a specific drawer

Preparation for Travel

• Take cell phone photos of important documents (credit cards, driver’s license, passport)
• Backup information to access if lost or stolen

Medical Decision Making

• Stress-induced Cortisol: Clouded thinking during medical decisions
• Important to ask for Number Needed to Treat (NNT)
  • Example: Statins (1 out of 300 people helped, 5% risk of side effects)
  • Example: Prostate surgery (1 out of 49 people helped, 50% risk of severe side effects)

Importance of Advanced Planning

• Understand potential risks and benefits
• Maintain informed conversations with healthcare providers
• Consider quality of life in medical decisions

Conclusion

• Brain's response to stress impacts rational decision-making
• Systems and advanced planning can reduce impact and prevent negative outcomes
• Personal anecdote: Installed a combination lock next to the front door to avoid similar stress in the future

Takeaway: Organizing and planning ahead, informed by understanding cognitive processes, can mitigate the effects of stress and lead to better decision-making.