12 Times In Life When You Should NOT Listen To Your Intuition

Your intuition might not be the best guide in these circumstances.

A woman with fair skin and dark hair pulled back is shown in profile against a background of lush green foliage. She has a calm expression, soft features, and is wearing a simple white top.

There are countless stories of how people who listened to their intuition have been saved from terrible fates or horrifying circumstances. That said, although intuition can be a great guide at times, there are other situations in which it can have the opposite effect. Below are 12 times when your intuition may not be the best guide to listen to.

1. When you’re grieving.

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans, sits on a dark gray sofa holding a tissue. She appears worried or upset, gazing off to the side against a light gray, textured wall background.

Grief tends to overwhelm all our emotions, and that includes intuition. Although you may think that you’re following the right course of action because it just “feels right”, your grief may be influencing your subconscious thoughts far more than you realize, leading to decisions you’ll ultimately regret.

2. When you’re angry.

A woman with long dark hair sits on a bench outdoors, wearing a light blue shirt. She has a visibly frustrated expression, with her mouth open and arms raised, palms facing up. The background is blurred with greenery and colorful flowers.

Much like grief, anger tends to take over and cloud our judgment, rendering intuition undependable. Your intuition might tell you that it’s a great idea to bring up an argument from 10 years ago, or do something unspeakable with a pool cue, but it’s best to err on the side of reason, here.

3. When you’re intoxicated.

A man in a white shirt is sitting in a bar with several glass mugs of beer on the table in front of him. He is smiling, looking to his left, and raising his right hand as if waving or signaling. The background features a bar with various bottles.

When you’re intoxicated—whether it’s with recreational substances or intense experience—you may not be able to tell the difference between intuition and intrusive thoughts. As such, if you feel yourself being carried away by a feeling in the moment, take time to consider the consequences of your actions instead.

4. When you’re very tired.

A woman with light skin and blonde hair pulled back, wearing a dark green sleeveless top and black-and-white striped pants, stands against a black and white background. She rests her right hand on her neck and gazes at the camera with a neutral expression.

Lack of sleep has serious detrimental effects on your cognitive abilities, as well as emotional stability. If you haven’t slept well for a few days, you’re simply not going to be thinking clearly. Find a way to get some much-needed rest before making any important decisions, as your intuition will be faulty.

5. When you’re very badly depressed.

A close-up of a man with short dark hair and a beard lying on a yellow and white striped pillow, looking contemplative and somewhat sad. He is wearing a casual grey shirt, and his eyes seem to be focused on something outside the frame.

Just like lack of sleep will cloud and mar your cognitive abilities, depression will also cause intrusive thoughts that may not reflect the reality of the situation. Wait until you’re in a better headspace before taking any action, and even then, talk things over with friends or a trusted therapist first.

6. When you’re really hungry or thirsty.

A person is clutching their stomach with both hands, appearing to experience abdominal pain. They are wearing a gray button-up shirt and blue jeans with a black belt. The background is blurred, putting focus on the individual's discomfort.

Anyone who has ever experienced severe hunger or thirst knows how it can blind one’s judgment. Your friends may be screaming at you not to drink from a puddle that’s glowing green and writhing with unearthly horrors, but if you’re thirsty, your intuition will tell you to go ahead and quench your thirst.

7. When you’re doing something that involves potentially risky science.

A bearded researcher in a white lab coat examines a blue liquid in a test tube while holding his chin thoughtfully. He stands in a brightly lit laboratory with large windows and various scientific equipment in the background.

If you’re doing anything that involves meticulous measurement and technique, this is not a time to follow intuition. This could involve chemistry, reloading ammunition; anything that involves a combination of dexterity and chemical knowhow. Trust hard numbers and doctrine rather than your gut… unless you want it scattered over a wide area.

8. When you’re honest enough with yourself to acknowledge that you have a personal bias.

A woman with curly hair gazes thoughtfully out of a window. She has one hand resting behind her head and is wearing a dark jacket. The background is slightly blurred, focusing attention on her contemplative expression.

Your “intuition” may be telling you something when, in reality, your subconscious is negatively informing your judgment. This often happens if a person has a negative bias toward a subject and then uses the excuse of “intuition” to justify their perspective, or negative actions toward said topic.

9. When you’re in a frenzy.

A young woman is sitting on the floor with her back against a sofa, her knees drawn to her chest. She looks worried or stressed. There is a large houseplant in the background against a white wall. The scene appears to be indoors, in a living room.

Frenzy is a type of inner pandemonium, such as being in a panic because you’re lost in the woods and freaking out, or because your child is unwell and you’re falling down a rabbit hole of “what-if” scenarios. In situations like this, calm yourself and follow protocols rather than letting “intuition” guide you.

10. When you’re very ill or in pain.

A woman with shoulder-length hair and a blue shirt closes her eyes tightly and covers her ears with her hands, appearing distressed or overwhelmed. Wrinkles are visible on her face, and she has a pained expression.

Your judgment will be compromised if you’re writhing in pain or delirious with fever. As with other dire situations on this list, follow established protocols and defer to friends, family, or professionals who can help you, rather than doing something to make the discomfort stop, which you’ll end up regretting later.

11. When someone with greater knowledge, experience, and skill tells you otherwise (especially in a safety situation).

Two police officers, one male and one female, are walking side by side away from the camera. They are in full uniform with equipment on their belts. A police car is parked in the background. The scene appears to be under a covered area or parking garage.

We’ve all seen movies in which a seasoned professional tells someone to stay in the car during a conflict, but then the person “follows their intuition” and inevitably gets themselves in trouble. If you find yourself in a situation like this—especially involving safety—follow orders instead of your whims.

12. When you’re overly emotionally invested.

A young boy in a white tank top and shorts is sitting on a kitchen floor, playing with toy trucks and a dinosaur. He is looking up and reaching towards a stove with a pot emitting steam. The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

When you’re dealing with an emotionally charged situation in which someone you love is at risk, you aren’t going to think clearly. Your intuition is going to try to override logic and reason in order to protect them, which may end up making the situation so much worse than it already is.