Mar 30
4 Techniques To Improve Delayed Gratification
The feeling of having something you want right now is fantastic. Don’t you think?
But some things that make you feel good at the moment may indeed cost you what matters to you.
The truth is, you can’t get everything you want, let alone get it immediately. However, instant gratification creates false expectations, which leads to frustration. You buy time to strategize thoughtfully and learn from your mistakes by delaying gratification.
Practicing this value leads to these longer-term goals. These goals can even be closer than you think. Although they may not provide immediate joy, they may prevent greater pain than the promise of the present moment.
What is delayed gratification?
To delay gratification, one must resist the temptation of immediate pleasure. As opposed to giving in to temptation, you hold out in hopes of getting a better or longer-lasting reward in the future.
This is an effective tool for learning how to live a purposeful life. Refraining from gratifying one’s impulses is commonly associated with impulse control: People with reasonable impulse control tend to excel at it. It is also possible to develop these skills.
The ability to weigh risks and rewards, resulting in the ability to postpone fulfillment rather than making a poor decision — especially if later, the reward is more significant than what we would get immediately. This is delayed gratification.
It is a skill you can develop over time. To do this, follow these five tips:
1. Get to know your values
You can’t make sacrifices if you don’t know what you’re working towards.
Before you can become better at understanding this concept, you should figure out your work values and your personal values.
Knowing your purpose makes it easier to remember it when you’re tempted.
2. Begin with something small
With something that won’t be done for years, there’s no point in starting to flex your new skill that you just started practicing.
Take small steps toward your long-term goals before working toward your big ones.
Depending on your current ability to patiently wait for things to get better, you should decide how long to wait. You can start with one day, for instance, if you struggle with waiting one week for a reward, and you will eventually develop the habit.
Build it into your life if you don’t have anything specific to work towards.
3. Take a break from routine
Do your temptations tempt you without thinking about it?
To become more aware of what you do if this is the case, you can practice mindfulness.
Take a moment to pause when you notice yourself doing something habitually. Ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing. Take some time to analyze how you’re feeling.
Pay attention to the details.
4. Don’t give in to temptation
Identify ways to eliminate temptation where possible if you’re still struggling to delay gratification.
Consider the example where you tend to spend money on items you don’t need instead of saving. There are ways to make it harder for yourself to spend instead of saving.
Automate transfers to an account you can’t access. Even if you create this account at a separate bank, you won’t transfer money back.
Gratification delay is important if you want to achieve long-term, sustainable goals.
Delaying gratification is just one of the skills necessary for professional and personal development. You can gain knowledge about yourself and receive support from other people.
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