How to Read Your Wife’s Mind

Truth #1. Your wife’s brain is designed to process a lot at once

Guys, in the minutes before you started reading this article, what were you thinking about? If you’re like most men (about 75%, according to our research) it probably was about one thing. Perhaps you were visualizing how you’re going to handle a difficult work conversation tomorrow morning. Or pondering how recruiting is going for your favorite college football team. Or wondering what you’re going to make for dinner, since it’s your turn.

One. Thing. At. A. Time.

But as you know, the mental landscape of your wife or girlfriend probably looks very different. If she’s like most women (79%, according to our survey of women for For Men Only), there’s a lot of thoughts going on at one time—sort of like multiple windows open on her mental desktop.

So one way to really understand this about your wife (and to admire her multi-tasking ability!) is to turn to her once you’re done reading this article and ask, “Honey, out of curiosity . . . what is in your mind right now? What thoughts are running through your brain?”

Then take note of what she says (“Well, I’m wondering whether I can get an extension on the financial presentation, and whether my boss is going to be irritated, and if I have time to run an errand after dinner, and whether Kayla’s fever is still going to be there tomorrow, and if I should ask Mom to come watch her since she won’t be able to go to daycare . . .”), and realize: this process is going on all the time.