How to Tackle That Task You Keep Avoiding

Meet Linda Parker, a dedicated cigarette smoker—she was lighting up 40 times a day, even imagining smoking in the shower if she could. Although she recognized the dangers, quitting always seemed out of reach. Every attempt to give up ended with her returning to her beloved habit sooner or later.

Determined to break free from the chains of her addiction, Linda decided to take a bold step. While chatting with a friend, she impulsively declared, “If I ever smoke again, I’ll donate $5000 to a cause I absolutely loathe!” From that moment on, she never picked up another cigarette.

When Willpower Wavers

As discussed in the first part of this series, motivating oneself based on distant consequences can be extremely challenging. Linda’s battle to quit smoking exemplifies this struggle. In the short term, indulging in a cigarette didn’t seem harmful; it was only future-Linda who might face dire health consequences. When faced with immediate desires versus long-term well-being, the lure of instant gratification often prevailed.

However, after making that shocking pledge to donate to a despised organization, her situation shifted dramatically. The decision now was between smoking and losing a substantial amount of money to a group she detested. With the repercussions of smoking becoming immediate rather than distant, Linda found it much harder to justify her cravings. Each time she thought about lighting up, vivid images of the organization’s harmful actions flooded her mind.

Shaping Your Future Decisions

Linda’s experience highlights a powerful concept: how to influence your future actions. By altering the choices available and making the consequences more immediate, you can steer future-you towards what present-you genuinely desires.

This strategy, known as “precommitment,” was popularized by Nobel Prize-winning economist Thomas Schelling. He illustrated this with the example of expectant mothers who request not to receive anesthetics during labor. These women understand that, in the throes of pain, they might succumb to the temptation of pain relief; restricting their options helps them avoid regrettable decisions later.

We see examples of precommitment in everyday life: “Please keep the cigarettes away from me, even if I ask for them.” “If I consider texting my ex while drinking, please intervene—no matter what I say.” “I won’t buy cookies, because if I do, I’ll devour the entire box in one sitting.”

Schelling proposed several strategies for ensuring that future you acts in alignment with your desires. Here are five effective approaches:

Hand Over Control: Give a friend your car keys or phone if you’re trying to resist temptation.
Make a Commitment: Promise to donate money to a disliked organization if you fail to meet your goals.
Eliminate Temptations: Keep unhealthy snacks out of the house when dieting or use apps like Self Control to block distractions while working.
Limit Distractions: Have someone drive you to a quiet place without distractions, only returning once you’ve completed your work.
Plan Wisely: Always shop for groceries after a meal to avoid cravings for unhealthy treats.

What If You Always Did What You Wanted?

All these strategies aim to reshape your future decisions so that you naturally select what is ultimately best for you. For instance, to motivate yourself to run later, you might schedule your runs for the morning when you’re more likely to feel energized. Alternatively, you could set up a commitment with consequences—like losing $100 if you skip a run.

The choice of strategy depends on your specific goals and what resonates with you. Personally, I find the commitment method particularly effective. I often wager money on my ability to stick to my goals, whether it’s exercising regularly or maintaining a meditation practice. Utilizing an app like Beeminder helps me track my progress and charges me if I fall behind. While putting money on the line may not work for everyone, for many, it can be life-changing. I haven’t tried the confinement strategy yet, but it definitely sounds promising!

In Conclusion

To achieve anything, motivation is crucial. However, it can be tough to feel inspired when the consequences of procrastination seem distant, especially when there are immediate rewards available. The key is to create a sense of immediacy regarding the benefits of action or the costs of inaction. By limiting your future options, you can ensure that your future self is aligned with your current desires.

For more insightful articles, consider checking out our piece on home insemination techniques. Additionally, if you’re interested in reliable resources for pregnancy, visit March of Dimes for great information. You can also explore Make A Mom for expert guidance on home insemination kits.

Summary

Linda Parker’s story illustrates the challenges of maintaining motivation for long-term goals. By employing strategies that create immediate consequences for future actions, you can better align your future decisions with your current intentions. This concept, known as precommitment, can be a powerful tool in overcoming procrastination and achieving your goals.