Researchers in the Netherlands have determined important life decisions may be best made while holding your water. (Shutterstock Photo)

Make the easy and quick choice, your brain is telling you.

But wait, what's that? Your bladder wants you to think again.

For better decision-making, perhaps you should hold your urine and ponder some more.

Researchers in the Netherlands have determined important life decisions may be best made while holding your water, as having control over our physical needs seems to, um, splash over onto the wider choices we make.

The unusual research started with too much coffee and a long meeting.

Mirjam Tuk, of the University of Twente in the Netherlands, told QMI Agency she was attending a lecture on self-control when the idea began to build. And build.

"This made me question whether there are conditions under which people can become more controlled," she said from her office in the city of Enschede.

"My full bladder - due to some coffee consumption - provided me with inspiration to answer that question."

Her team's experiments, which will be outlined in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, found giving in to our bodily needs opens the floodgates to wanting more fulfilments.

The psychological scientists believe the activation of any number of desires, including sexual excitement, hunger and thirst, can make people look for other instant gratifications.

During testing, subjects were split into two groups. They either drank five cups of water or took a few sips. After 40 minutes - the time it takes liquid to reach the bladder - they were asked to make choices, including getting either $16 tomorrow or $30 in 35 days.

Tuk found those with full bladders were able to hold out for greater rewards.

Not only has it become research fodder, she said she's managed to see the advantage of squirming in a chair for a little bit longer.

"I did become aware of the fact that sometimes it is not a bad idea to continue for another 15 minutes with what I am doing, and postpone a toilet visit a little bit."