<p>You've probably heard your parents teach you to control your impulses. But what are impulses? And how exactly do you control them? Read on to find out!</p><h4>What Are Impulses?</h4><p>An impulse is a strong urge to act or behave in a certain way. It's often difficult to stop yourself. Impulses can be good or bad. A good impulse may be a sudden want to hug your parent or sibling. Good impulses aren't harmful to your or others.</p><p>Negative impulses are the ones you have to watch out for. Maybe you have an urge to hit your friend if they say something mean. Or you may act out in class because you feel bored. You have to control your negative impulses.</p><h4>How Do Impulses Affect Your Behavior?</h4><p>Acting on your impulses can have a negative effect on your behavior. Do you often get in trouble because you acted without thinking? If you get an urge and then do it without thinking things through, you'll often make bad choices.</p><p>Impulses can also harm your relationships with parents, friends, and teachers. When you react when you're angry or upset, you'll say and do things you don't mean.</p><h4>Managing Your Impulses</h4><p>It's important to learn how to manage your impulses. You'll be less likely to get in trouble and hurt others. You have to train yourself to think before you act. You can start by making a list of the times you act impulsively. Where are you? What are you doing? What types of situations set off your impulses?</p><p>Once you have your list, you can recognize the times when you're about to act impulsively. When one of those moments arises, take a deep breath, think about what you're about to do, and then ask yourself if you're making a good choice? If it's hurtful or disruptive, then try to think of a more positive action.</p>