• 01 Nov, 2025 *

In today’s highly fast-paced world, it is easy to become reactive to things, rather than pausing. Taking a second for yourself is highly valuable for different reasons, such as accomplishing a stressful task, solving a complicated problem, or calming an argument.

Stressful Tasks

For example, taking a breather allows the mind to clear up for important stuff. Before anything stressful, such as an exam, most people probably take a deep breath and then start. This mere second before the stressful thing allows your mind to be clearer for that task, and hence probably perform better in it than if you didn’t take that second for yourself. Thinking takes time, but for the benefit of reduced stress.

Quizzes & Exams

Talking about exams, it is also helpful to take time to do the test. Even though one might know the topic of the test, it is very helpful to take a second to think on each question. Did I read the question right? Is my answer actually correct? Having this short thought process is far more reassuring than reactively banging through the whole test and then failing because you misread something. These moments of thinking are even more important on high-stakes exams, where every question matters. Thinking takes time, but for the benefit of passing a class.

AI/LLMs

Another example of thinking being useful is LLMs. LLMs thinking (chain of thought models) turns in improved performance. This Splunk article explains why “thinking” helps LLMs greatly. In short, it is because LLMs can reduce a big problem/prompt into multiple, smaller problems. Instead of reacting/replying (usually wrongly) to a mildly complex prompt, the thinking LLM can break up the prompt into simpler problems. Going through a series of steps to solve a prompt yields higher accuracy compared to the LLM just spitballing anything. Thinking takes time, but for the benefit of accuracy.

Games (Chess)

Chess is another great place where thinking is key. The effect of thinking is far more obvious for chess because most of the time the players are thinking rather than moving pieces. They think because they want to choose the best move, based on the current position of the board and possible future positions. If chess were purely reactive (akin to Blitz chess), then the winner would probably be decided by chance rather than skill. Reactivity would promote randomness of moves, which leads to a lack of chess strategy, which likely leads to a lost game. Thinking takes time, but for the benefit of winning.

Communication

Pausing before talking and during allows you to talk better and seem smarter. As Vinh Giang, a popular communication skills teacher, says in a LinkedIn post, “When you pause, you give people time to think about what you said. If you don’t stop talking, there’s no time to process your words, and therefore misunderstandings happen.” I would also add pausing when talking allows your thoughts to fully mature, and you seem more knowledgeable on whatever you are saying. You seem more composed. Pausing is also effective when arguing with someone. If someone is arguing with you, pausing to think about your response helps you say a response that will cool down the argument. When one is reactive in an argument, the argument can heat up instead, with no one winning, just like the reactive chess match. Thinking takes time, but for the benefit of better relationships.

Internet Exchanges

It is also notable that pausing does help with the internet as well. There are many trolls and good people on the internet that will come your way. Pausing to consider an interaction with a troll might lead to a conclusion of a peaceful block/mute rather than replying reactively and starting a fight. Pausing to think about what a good person has said to you can foster a healthy relationship or a productive exchange. Thinking takes time, but for the benefit of peace.

In short, taking time for yourself, even just a second, does wonders in various situations.

Thanks for reading! Have a great day! ʕ •ᴥ•ʔゝ☆

#thoughts