How does delayed gratification help you? How can we implement it in our daily lifestyle? Find out more!
Jump ahead:
- Marshmallow Experiment
- What can we learn?
- Examples in our daily lives
- Benefits of Delayed Gratification
- How to start adopting this practice?
The term delayed gratification might not be a stranger to everyone. The term explains itself, stating that the good things come after the prolonged wait.
Even after over 40 years of research done by Stanford to show that people with this quality has higher success rates, why is it that most of us still can’t put this into practice? The answer lies in…
Human Nature
With this, let me introduce the Marshmallow Experiment.
Marshmallow Experiment
Conducted in the 1960s by a Stanford professor named Walter Mischel, hundreds of children averaging the ages of 4–5 were brought in.
The researcher gave each child a deal once they were seated in a private room alone, and was offered 1 marshmallow. The deal was that the professor would leave the room and if the child has yet to consume that marshmallow after the professor returns, he/she will be offered an additional marshmallow.
The main thought here is: Either you get only 1 now, or delay consumption and get 2 later. But, most children gave into the temptation minutes into the experiment.
What can we learn?
The researchers did many subsequent follow-ups and found that the small group of children who were able and willing to delay gratification, ended up doing better in many areas across life.
They had higher test scores, better stress management capabilities and better social skills, were less likely to be obese or resort to substance abuse, etc. This led the researchers to the conclusion that this quality was detrimental to anyone desiring for success in their lives.
Examples
- If we push on and complete working out instead of giving up once we are tired, we’ll gain muscle mass faster.
- If we do not buy any unhealthy snacks when we are grocery shopping now, we are more likely to eat healthier at home with reduced snacking opportunities.
- If we start giving up some social opportunities and start saving up now, we’ll be able to retire earlier!
Benefits
Now that you know of some examples or instances where delayed gratification may be required, here’s what it will actually bring you if you implemented it.
1. You’ll start to better appreciate what you currently have.
Time does many things for people, like compound our bank interest, heal hearts, keep us on our feet, create urgency, track and build habits, etc.
You’ll start to see that there are lesser things out in the market that would potentially tempt you. You’ll start to be more satiated with everything in your life right now, that you will not lust or yearn as much over the newest fad out there. This is especially true for materialistic items like luxury products, gadgets, etc.
An iPhone can last many years, but why do people keep upgrading and trading up once a new model is out? That extra money spent to keep yourself up to date with the latest trends, is it worth it?
It will take you some time to wrap your head around this idea, but accept it, and you will see many changes that will come your way in the long run. As a University student, ever since I accepted this ideology, I’ve spent less on brands, gadgets, etc, and my bank account has been reaping those benefits!
2. Reduce discomfort and feel happier in the long run
Many of the things in life that we purchase or do seem to provide us with instant gratification. However, these don’t last long. Things such as food, drugs, gambling, sex, or using our credit cards only help with easing our discomfort for the moment.
This is not to tell you that you should not indulge in any of the above, but exercise moderation. Instead, invest in the other things that would be worth the wait. Things that you need to work hard to reap the benefits from, things that would help increase the quality of your life in the long run, adopt habits that would make you a better person, etc.
3. Helps to change your mindset
People who invest in instant gratification tend to associate little work with high results, ultimately leading to their downfall. Without working hard, how are you going to achieve anything? We can’t expect everything to just drop from the skies. On the flip side, people who invest in delayed gratification associate hard work with astounding results.
You’ll start to respect the end result that you are working so hard, and delaying gratification for. This leads to you convincing yourself that the end result WILL and MUST be worth all the hard work you have put in and will continue putting in. Once you get through this mindset change, it will stick with you for life and continue piling up your individual successes.
Want to start but don’t know how?
Now that you know of what delaying gratification can bring you, you might be thinking of how to go about adopting this into your lifestyle.
1. Collect your thoughts
Take time off to think of your goals and how you can achieve them. Take into consideration these questions:
- Can I give up pleasure and satisfaction now for the benefit of my future goal?
- Do I give up easily?
- How do I make decisions? Are they for the betterment of myself to reach my life goal, or are they for my instant gratification?
- When was the last time I accomplished an arduous task? How did I feel after completing it? Was it worth it?
These questions exist to help you understand yourself better.
If there is a big-ticket item that you want badly, would you save now and pay full in cash later or will you get the item now and pay in installments with your credit card? If you’re on a journey of growth regardless if in school or in your own business, will you keep going, or give up when there is little to no progress evident?
2. Take baby steps
Your first step does not have to be very extensive. Take, for example, your goal is to make exercise a regular habit. You can start by signing up for an annual gym membership. The thought of having paid for an annual membership will be stuck in your mind, encouraging you to make full use of the money you paid.
Subsequently, start showing up everyday! Be it for 5 minutes or 10 minutes and you’ve barely completed a circuit. The idea is to get yourself into the cycle of showing up at the gym everyday.
Once showing up at the gym daily seems like a norm for you, start prolonging the time you spend there. This cycle that has been put in motion will start working itself out. You’ll see yourself starting to exercise and be more productive in the gym over time.
Don’t rush, and don’t compare yourself to anyone else. It takes time for changes to show, and your progress is yours alone, so own it!
3. Quit making excuses and put in the work!
“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.” — Jordan Belfort
Sure, you may whine, complain, dream, cry, worry, about others being able to reach their goals while you can’t, get over it! If others can do it, so can you! Push all the negativity aside, make a plan, put it into action, and stick to it! There are no such things as immediate results so don’t give up when you don’t see progress. Be it how small, you are still moving forward, bringing you one step closer to your dreams.