Believe it or not, those crafty dudes as Harvard have developed a mathematical model for what is known as ‘future discounting’
That’s where the importance to us of a benefit of something is subconsciously reduced if that benefit won’t be felt immediately.
You can use the formula on anything you may want to or chose to do.
Rate the reward of it on a scale of 1-10.
So, if it’s going for a workout or eating healthily, the reward is your future health and happiness.
Put whatever number you like on it.
Let’s say 8 for now.
Then rate the effort / pain / inconvenience on a 1-10.
If you don’t like what you’re doing or it’s inconvenient this might be a 6, for example.
Now here’s the kicker……….
If either / both the reward and effort are in the future, half that score.
So, going for a workout today becomes an reward of 4 (half of 8) take away 6 for a score of -2.
Going for a workout tomorrow becomes a reward of 4 take away 3 (half of 6) for a score of +1.
Much more appealing, no?
Which is why it’s so easy to put it off.
To plan to start on the Monday that never comes.
It works the opposite way with other stuff, of course.
The full benefit score of immediately buying something on your credit card minus half the pain of paying it off at a later date.
The full benefit of the taste of that cake, biscuit, etc minus half the pain of future reduced health, unhappiness, etc.
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Obvious stuff, of course.
But “What’s the answer?” I hear you call.
We’ve talked before about our brains ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ systems.
The different parts of the brain that control the more immediate, more exciting, more impulsive thoughts.
The bits that control the further removed (in time, space, etc), more sedate, more controlled actions and thoughts.
The answer, as we’ve mentioned before is to ‘cool the now’ and ‘heat the later’.
Make the option in front of you less emotive.
Bring the future consequence to the fore.
You’ll of heard of people who’ve given up smoking………
After seeing a lung disease ridden relative on their death bed.
The distant, vague, cool future has been rapidly bought to the fore by an emotional, hot present for someone else.
Over the next few days we have a few ways of ‘cooling the present’.
But the easiest way to ‘warm the future’?
Just stop.
Really have a think about it.
Like a smoker might envisage themselves with terminal lung cancer.
Envisage the potential (if not quite likely) effects of years or decades of eating badly and not looking after your body.
How might your body look?
How might it feel?
How might you feel?
What potential illness / mortality issues are there?
It’s a bit grim, I know.
But really stop and think about it.
How appealing now is that cake, biscuit, takeout, etc now?
How does the convenience of what you find easy seem by comparison?
How do you feel about not ‘offending’ others with your choices or standing out by being different?
Much love,
Jon ‘Workhouse’ Hall and Matt ‘Leg work’ Nicholson
P.S. For those of you wanting to finally do something that will last, don’t forget that the find out more meeting is next week now – myrise.co.uk/briefing-meeting.
