Simpleology Blog

Hot Item. Don't buy any big-ticket stuff--such as a plasma TV--when you're in a "hot" mood.

My dad always told me that it's not wise to do anything when you're seeing red. "You're going to regret it," he said.

I remember the first time I heard him say it. I was about seven and I had just gotten into a fight with a friend for some reason or another. I had declared to everyone that I was going to "erase" my friend from my life--starting with telling everyone in our "gang" to stay away from him. (Yeah, I was a pretty dramatic kid.) Hearing about my nefarious plans, my dad took me aside and lectured me about controlling my temper. "Don't do anything you'll be sorry about, son," he told me.

With that said, I've come up with a list of the top three things that people must never do when they're mad as hell:

1. Don't go shopping. Just as there are people who overeat when they're peeved, there are those who overspend when they're mad at the world. According to a research done at the University of Pittsburgh, angry people may be less apt to compare prices and won't think twice about buying big-ticket items like sports car or a giant plasma TV. So, stay away from the mall and resist the urge to click through online shopping sites when you're having a bad day.

2. Don't speak. Saying something harsh during a heated moment is a mistake that many people make. But if biting your tongue is too painful, you can express yourself without doing any damage. "Jotting down bad feelings can help you get out of a huff," explains Dr. Darlene Mininni, author of The Emotional Toolkit. Pour out your bad feelings on paper or on your computer. When you're done, review what you've written and explore your feelings. If you opt to save what you've written, make sure that the page or file containing your rant is hidden from prying eyes. Tip: If you're venting on Microsoft Word file, click Tools then choose Options. Then, click on Security to create a password that'll protect your private thoughts.

3. Don't go anywhere near food. For a number of people, bingeing is their way of "managing their anger." Then again, you're not really in the clear even if you don't nibble during stressful situations. According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, you may still wind up overeating once the pressure is off. Thus, when you feel that you're already overloaded with stress, you should let off some steam at the gym. Or you can go for a brisk walk around the neighborhood--just as long as you don't take a side trip to a restaurant or fast food outlet.

Hopefully, more and more people will keep these no-nos in mind. If they do, there's no doubt that the world will be a much better place. We should all realize that anything done in anger is bound to be a disaster.