Comfort is good, and indulging in some happy moments never hurt anybody in the long term. Still, with so much instant gratification available, ranging from media consumption to a quick DoorDash delivery, it makes you wonder what it would be like to practice a bit of self-discipline. In fact, most people today are so deeply connected with having fun and living in the moment to the point where the same demographic struggles to do anything else that doesn’t provide pleasure at every turn.
So, instead of jumping down the same rabbit hole and spending the day scrolling through Instagram, it’s time we challenge ourselves with a bit of delayed gratification to see if we have what it takes to place mindfulness over fleeting moments of happiness. Plus, who knows, you might discover that showing a bit of restraint and taking a step back to think before committing to your regular schedule of activities might change your perception of what it means to be productive and live your best life.
Restraint Builds Willpower and Control
At a very young age, everybody’s taught the value of discipline and firm control over our actions, and it’s the same thought process that spills over into accountability, responsibility, and the many positive characteristics. But what most people don’t tell you is that showing professional restraint over temptations much later in life builds willpower, creating opportunities you never thought were possible.
- Saying No to that Extra Bite: On paper, cutting back on extra calories by pushing away the urge to grab another bite doesn’t sound that enticing nor impactful in the grand scheme of things. However, that very simple gesture could be the one thing helping you maintain a healthy diet, combat eating disorders, or build your self-worth. Plus, eating less junk food, in general, scores you extra points on that next visit to the dentist.
- Working Out, Regardless of Motivation: Everybody has their unique fitness goals, but if there’s one thing everyone shares, we all feel that same dread every morning by chance when we can’t pull ourselves out of bed to exercise. However, part of delayed gratification is working past these moments of weakness and setting aside temporary comfort to achieve something much greater. And in the case of working out, no matter if you feel motivated or not, it brings you closer to your dream physique.
- Improving Financial Situation: Impulses are the bane of any budget plan and semblance of financial stability, and if you can’t discern bad from good purchases, you run the risk of driving yourself down to financial ruin. That’s where the practice of delayed gratification provides a solution because moving away from impulse buying factors leads to saving more money. And with what extra you save up over time, you can redirect those funds by investing into Bitcoin, dividend-paying stocks, and real estate.
Don’t Go for the Big Hurdles Just Yet
Likewise, it wouldn’t be fair if we just explored the benefits without going over how others can start doing it themselves, and, luckily enough, it’s all about taking those small steps before overcoming the big hurdles. Therefore, in the case of newbies, we recommend (1) setting realistic goals early, (2) spending more time thinking, and (3) accepting that setbacks are part of the process.
- Set Realistic Goals Early: Delayed gratification isn’t something you pick up on a whim but a lifestyle and mindset that you stick with through thick and thin regardless of the situation. So, to sketch your plan of action and lay down a roadmap for success, setting realistic goals can help introduce a bit of clarity. For example, you could start with control over time management and stopping yourself from spending too much time on the screen.
- Spend More Time Thinking: People talk big about self-reflection but don’t ever invest the time or effort in seeing the process through the end. You see, mindfulness and even a few minutes of meditation can help clear things up and get you in that flow state, the same way elite runners perform at the top level. So, make an active effort to feel calm and connect with your thoughts.
- Accept the Setbacks: Last but not least, always remember that nobody goes through delayed gratification without a couple of setbacks; it’s all just part of the process of re-learning to value self-discipline over copious amounts of dopamine hits. People go through things differently, and the same goes for acquiring and retaining new knowledge and responsibilities. Just tough it out until the end, and we promise you’ll feel a lot better.
Change Is a Personal Decision
Believe it or not, anybody is capable of turning their life around and changing because it all starts with a personal decision. And while the journey of delayed gratification is ripe with challenges you’ll need to overcome, taking your time with things and doing a little every day puts you on the right path.