#30 Second-order thinking

Thinking beyond the immediate consequences

Today is Wednesday which means we are exploring a new mental framework that can help us make better decisions. Did you have a situation where you solved for one problem, but unintentionally ended up creating another one that's even worse? To avoid unintended consequences, we can use second-order thinking framework to examine long-term effects of our decisions.

First-order thinking is fast and easy. We think about a solution that fixes our problem right now. If we are hungry, we might indulge ourselves in junk food that feels good and satisfies our hunger. Second-order thinking considers the effects of our decision in the long-term. We might enjoy junk food in the moment, but it might lead to weight gain and health problems moving forward.

Here is how you can start putting second-order thinking into practice. When you find a solution to a problem, ask yourself "And then what?" Try to think through time and consider what the consequences look like in 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years.

Some of the best things in life come from first-order negative, but second-order positive decisions. Working out regularly is difficult and time-consuming in the short-term, but leads to better sleep and well-being in the long run. On the other hand, things that feel great in the short term might have bad long-term effects.

Second-order thinking is slow, time-consuming and takes a lot of work. But it can help you save a lot of time and trouble in the future. When in doubt, ask yourself “And then what?”

I learned it from this book.