The Battles in Our Brains

Instant Gratification vs. Future Success: The Battle in Our Brains

Read time: 4 mins

Here is one shocking fact: when we think of our future self, our brain thinks of our future self as a stranger. Hence, thinking in the long-term is a challenge that many of us face, and it affects various aspects of our lives, from personal habits to our careers and finances. In this post, we’ll explore why thinking long-term is tough and provide tips on how to overcome these obstacles, backed by some compelling statistics.

Instant Gratification vs. Delayed Rewards

One of the primary reasons it’s challenging to think long-term is the allure of instant gratification. According to a study published in the “Journal of Consumer Psychology,” people tend to prefer immediate rewards over delayed rewards. This bias towards instant gratification can make it difficult to delay rewards for future benefits.

Let’s forget about long-term for a sec. Even in our daily life, how many times do we reach for the phone and scroll on social media while ignoring our tasks? What about our impulsive trips to the mall to get our hands on the next trend? I know because even as I’m trying to become better, I still succumb to these urges once in a while. Also, remember from a while ago my blog post about Akrasia? The weakness of will? It also plays a big role into our failure at thinking long term.

Habits and Consistency

Long-term thinking often requires forming habits that contribute to your future goals. According to research conducted by Phillippa Lally at University College London, it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. The challenge lies in establishing and maintaining these habits. Whether it’s sticking to a workout routine, a healthy eating plan, or consistent savings, the daily effort can feel burdensome. It’s crucial to remind yourself that small, consistent actions lead to significant long-term results. Like the great philosopher Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do.” I also recommend the book “Atomic Habits” to get started on building good habits.

Career Aspirations

In your career, focusing on the long term can be a struggle when you’re dealing with immediate job demands and deadlines. Climbing the career ladder often requires years of dedication and hard work. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure of wage and salary workers with their current employer is 4.1 years. Yet, it’s not uncommon to meet people who has stayed in the same place for 10–15 years. This sets us back because we are missing out on better opportunity and pay. It’s easy to become disillusioned or impatient if you don’t see immediate progress. To combat this, set career milestones, seek opportunities for growth, and remind yourself of your ultimate career goals.

Personal Finances

When it comes to personal finances, short-term thinking can lead to impulsive spending and financial instability. According to a survey by the Federal Reserve, 40% of Americans would struggle to cover an unexpected $400 expense. Saving for retirement, for instance, can seem less urgent when you’re faced with pressing bills or tempting purchases. To break free from this mindset, create a budget, automate savings, and set specific financial goals. Visualizing your financial future can help you stay on track.

Tips for Thinking Long-Term

Set Clear Goals: Define your long-term goals clearly. Whether it’s financial independence, a successful career, or a healthier lifestyle, knowing where you’re headed makes it easier to stay focused. Check out my previous post for how to set goals. I also have some thing cooking with Notion to assist with that. Will be release soon (stay up to date by hanging out with me on Twitter).

Break It Down: Divide your long-term goals into smaller, actionable steps. This approach makes progress feel more achievable and less overwhelming.

Create Accountability: Share your goals with a friend or family member who can help you stay on track and hold you accountable. I shared this before, but I will say this again. I asked my friend to help me with a 90-days challenge on saving money. By the end of 90 days, I saved roughly 4000$. A big success in my book.

Visualize Success: Regularly visualize yourself achieving your long-term goals. This can boost motivation and help you stay committed.

Seek Support: Don’t be afraid to seek guidance from mentors or professionals who have experience in your area of interest. They can provide valuable insights and advice. In my journey as a Notion creator, I seek advices and helps from other experts. This helps me improve my template so much. Big shout out to them!

Practice Patience: Understand that significant achievements take time. Patience is a key ingredient in long-term success. The simplest way to practice patience is to practice meditation or for gym guys and gals out there, plank. You learn better focus (and stay in shape) and quiet your monkey brain. Which, in turns, helps you think in long-term better.

Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate your progress along the way. Acknowledging your achievements, no matter how small, reinforces your commitment to the long-term journey.

Thinking long-term is undoubtedly challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort. By understanding the obstacles and implementing these strategies, you can develop the patience and discipline needed to win the long game. Your future self will thank you for it.