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If you’re used to the old advice to handle a complex problem by sleeping on it, some new research from the University of New South Wales may be a wake-up call:

Neither snap judgements nor sleeping on a problem are any better than conscious thinking for making complex decisions, according to new research.

The finding debunks a controversial 2006 research result asserting that unconscious thought is superior for complex decisions, such as buying a house or car. If anything, the new study suggests that conscious thought leads to better choices.

The new study points to a few ways that unconscious judgments can be skewed.

… our research suggests that unconscious thought is more susceptible to irrelevant factors, such as how recently information has been seen rather than how important it is. If conscious thinkers are given adequate time to encode material, or are allowed to consult material while they deliberate, their choices are at least as good as those made ‘unconsciously’.

Something to keep in mind the next time you’re tempted to give a too-quick answer on something critical like project duration or cost.