Pushing the pause button: science shows that by pausing, you can help shape your destiny through self-control.

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"OMG! Did I really just send that text?"

Most people have said something that they wish they could take back. And if they had paused to think about it first, they probably would have acted differently.

Pausing doesn't pay off just when you speak. Scientific studies have shown that making a habit of pausing before you do something can actually have a big impact on how your life turns out.

THINKING IT THROUGH: THE TEEN BRAIN CHALLENGE

In making decisions we rely on two areas of the brain: 1) the limbic system, which creates and processes emotions, and 2) the prefrontal cortex, which governs logical thought. The type of decision, how we feel about it, and how prepared we are to handle it helps determine which brain area has the most influence.

But our age also plays an important role. Thinking through the consequences of one's actions is actually harder for teens because the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until around age 25. This is why teens often feel an intense emotional drive to act impulsively--it's how their brains are structured!

Though this tendency to act without considering the outcomes can lead to problematic situations, impulsivity during the developmental years evolved because it makes teens more open to new experiences and ideas. This openness helps teens become independent adults.

TRAIN YOUR BRAIN

The key to making impulsivity work for you--instead of against you--is to train your brain by practicing pausing. This doesn't mean you stop taking risks or being open to new experiences. But you won't know if the risk is worth it until you think it through. Deciding to take a risk based on logic shows self-control, not impulsivity.

What are different ways to pause? You might take a deep...