Decide before you get there. The moment you’re standing at a buffet with a plate in your hand is the worst possible time to make food decisions. Research on implementation intentions shows that specific advance plans have a medium-to-large effect on goal attainment—you pre-commit, so there’s less deliberation in the moment.
This companion explores why pre-planning works, the pre-party strategy (eating beforehand, deciding what to eat and skip, scripting refusals), and tactics for navigating the buffet once you arrive. (3 min read)