If you’re a Paramedic, you know that your ‘Response Time’ is usually the critical difference between life and death. The faster you respond, the more likely you’ll be able to improve the outcome.

That logic applies to almost anything that’s urgent and time-sensitive. But what about everything else?

Although many of us tend to think that every item on our To-Do list needs to be done today (or yesterday), it’s probably safe to say that few things truly make “emergency status”.

Sometimes, taking a minute, an hour, or a day to ponder what we should do next is the wisest decision we can make.

That’s almost always true when it comes to how we answer and deal with the people around us. Whether at home or at work, it’s easy to engage our mouths before engaging our brains. We often react emotionally when we should be responding logically. The first is often impulsive while the second is usually intentional. When it comes to “Interpersonal Response Times”, slowing down to think before we speak or act can make all the difference in the current and future health of our relationships.

Over a century ago, General Robert E. Lee said, “I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.”

Take a breath, walk away, disconnect from your emotions. You don’t always have to be a First Responder.