I think the overall premise of the article is delayed gratification . We are all impulsive creatures seeking that dopamine kick of instant gratification ( likes, whatever type of reward you get from gaming etc). During the pandemic i found myself very anxious ( stressed out) , i discovered meditation which help me slow down my mind /thoughts and regain a bit of control ( mentally). As thing " normalized" i found myself losing that practice of meditating. I think its essential to do so no matter the circumstances as it would help me continue to grow a sound mind . Eating, dieting fall into this realm for me .
Propose a change you could make to one of your habits, that would reduce your time preference from high (instant gratification) to low (delayed gratification) time preference. It could relate to any aspect of your life (financial, diet, exercise, relationships or education).
One thing that I am working on changing is my reaction to stress. I usually go shopping and buy things that I think I “need”. In recognition of that feeling I try to work out the stress through exercise rather than spending money.
I could go to bed earlier and wake up earlier, reducing my high time preference (gratification through relaxation) to a lower time preference in order to effectively work towards the version of me that I aspire to be.
I think that I have a high level of self-control and have always practiced delayed gratification, so it is a bit easier for me than for a lot of other people. However, one area in which I could improve would be limiting procrastination. Getting on with tasks instead of delaying them would help me be more productive overall.
Whenever I watch TV, I can reduce my time for this task.
That way I can increase my time dedicated to study or learn more.
I can spend a time to cook a lunch a day before in the evening, and take it to the office. WIth saved money, I can invest.
Changing the food I eat, eating within a limited window (intermittent fasting) will help me lose some unwanted weight and also improve my overall health over the next few years.
I could reintroduce meditation to my daily routine for how I start and end each day. I had developed this habit during 2020 and it was tremendously helpful in clearing my mind and keeping my mind decluttered. For some reason, I drifted away from the consistency of this about a year ago and I’ve realized how I’m programmed to begin each morning by picking up my phone, listening to a podcast and doing the same morning routine. I know if I get back to consistent meditation that it will provide countless benefits and it would only take 10 minutes every morning of delaying my normal routine and taking time to start the day off positively with meditation
I would change the way I wake up so I could accomplish more task at hand that includes a good diet and exercise before the kids wake up.
read a book 15-30min before going to bed that helps me sleep better and wake up on time
hah I hate working out, mostly due to being in the military for a few years. Being yelled at and treated poorly for not keeping up isn’t a great motivator least not for me lol. So just getting into the gym a few times a week with no pressure on results would be a start.
60 mins earlier every night Could translate to increased willpower which would (hopefully) help me be more stoic during my daily routine.
Intermittent fasting is a good way to practice avoiding instant gratification. Instead of giving in to the feeling of hunger first thing in the morning, you have to eat within your planned feeding window. If you can lower your time preference for something as essential as food, you can lower it for money. Make a plan, stick to it, and lower your time preference.
I read a quote the other day… “A salary is just the drug they give you when they want you to give up on your dreams.”
My salary is the high time preference (instant gratification). I need to get off my bum and build something so that over time I can get off this hamster wheel – and control real wealth, which is my time and freedom!
I could cut down on weekly the luxury items that i really do not need, and either substitute them for much cheaper items or just do without. The fiat money saved from that, will now too be put towards reaching the end goal of financial freedom.
Getting to bed 30min to ensure that I don’t run low on energy in the late afternoon and ensure a high level of productivity throughout the entire day.
Spending more time on Moralis, instead of playing video games
Going to the gym and eating healthy, instead of playing video games
paying back my student loans
Here are some things I could do to not one, but various of my habits, that would reduce the time preference from high to low:
- Spend less on travel and invest the money instead.
- Endure my hunger when away from home until I’m back home.
- Invest in existing friendships instead of looking for new faces.
- Not play with my phone when going to bed, but meditating and sleeping instead.
- Study at Moralis instead of going after the easy money (copywriting, in my case).
As you can see, I view the time preference issue as one of consuming vs. investing. I have leaned more towards the consumption side (YOLO, right?) but I’m eager to move the needle to the investing side.
I need to incorporate at least 30 minutes a day researching more investment and passive income opportunities.
waking up earlier (7:00 AM) every morning to meditated, pray, read and began the day with a fresh soul,mind so i would achieve every day goal.
also read 10 minutes a day so my brain is constantly working and reading new and interesting things.