3 Ways to Act on the Best Interest of Your Future Self
Why do we avoid doing the things we know we should do, even when it’s clear that they are good for us?
If you want to beat procrastination and make better long-term choices, then you have to find a way to make your present self act in the best interest of your future self.
#1 Make the Rewards of Long-Term Behavior More Immediate
We procrastinate because we want immediate benefits.
One way to fix this is to imagine the benefits your future self will enjoy.
#2 Make the Costs of Procrastination More Immediate
It is easy to skip things that don’t have costs, so assign them value.
Publicly state deadlines so people will hold you to them, or place bets on your behavior so you run the risk of losing money if you don’t commit.
#3 Remove Procrastination Triggers From Your Environment
Changing your environment is the key to changing your behavior.
Eliminate bad choices from your environment and surround yourself with better choices.