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I’m sure you’ve experienced the urge for instant gratification at some point in your career, life, or business. Modern life is designed for us to get what we want as quickly as possible.
Instant Food Delivery in 30 mins or less rather than making a healthy meal at home.
Instant Entertainment at our fingertips with Netflix or mindless scrolling on apps rather than focusing on our career or side hustle.
Whether it’s the temptation to make a quick sale or the desire to see immediate results from your hard work, it’s natural to want things to happen right away.
But as we all know, good things often take time.
How important is your health to you? What about the security of purchasing your own home? Perhaps having a successful career is what you’re after? Whatever you’re trying to achieve, one thing is for certain…
“If a goal is worth having, it’s worth blocking out the time in your day-to-day life necessary to achieve it.” — Jill Koenig
So how can we overcome the urge for instant gratification and cultivate patience and self-control?
The GPS technique discussed in this article, can help anyone struggling with instant gratification and pave the way to achieve your goal. Let’s dive in to understand the technique to manage your time and resources effectively.
What Is Instant Gratification?
Instant gratification is the desire to receive a reward or pleasure immediately, without having to wait or work for it.
Instant gratification works on the pleasure principle.
Does instant gratification instantly satisfy me? It does not.
Because Instant gratification makes us want, want more, right now.
People working in this programming are still operating on child behavior. Because you want everything instantly in that very moment as a child thinks this will not come again.
It is similar to a child who wants to eat chocolate and is stubborn about getting it.
Instant gratification can be tempting and addictive because it allows us to satisfy our desires or needs immediately.
However, it can also lead to impulsive behavior, short-sighted decision-making, and difficulty in achieving long-term goals.
For example, next time when you find yourself with no money at the end of the month.
Ask Yourself- What if I can create a budget for every month?
If you always choose instant gratification, you may find it hard to save money or stay focused on a difficult task because you are constantly seeking immediate pleasure or rewards.
While it is normal to experience a desire for instant gratification at times, it is important to be aware of this tendency and to try to balance it with the long-term benefits of delayed gratification. This can involve setting goals, making a plan, and developing self-control to resist the temptation of immediate rewards in favor of future benefits.
The Marshmallow experiment (read here) and a series of other experiments proved that the ability to delay gratification was critical for success in life.
Delayed gratification is a habit of successful people.
What Is Delayed Gratification?
Delayed gratification is the ability to resist the temptation of an immediate reward and wait for a future reward.
In Hindi, it is said, “Sabar Ka Phal Meetha Hota Hai”
Let’s say your target is to have a fit and healthy body next year.
But are you ready to change your lifestyle?
Can you go to the gym or work out for 4 days every week?
Can you eat simple yet healthy meals at home?
To achieve your target of a healthy body you will need discipline and willpower to follow the routine.
A key characteristic of self-control is the willingness to sacrifice in the present for the sake of a better tomorrow.
The concept of delayed gratification is often studied in psychology and has been linked to a variety of positive outcomes, such as increased success in school and work, better physical and mental health, and overall well-being.
One famous example of the concept of delayed gratification is the “Marshmallow Test,” in which children are given a choice between receiving one small reward immediately or waiting a short period of time to receive two small rewards.
The results of this test have been used to suggest that children who are able to delay gratification may be more successful in life due to their ability to resist temptation and make long-term plans.
Delayed gratification is a useful skill to have in many areas of life, as it can help you make thoughtful decisions, set and achieve goals, and resist temptation.
Previously I have spoken about beliefs and concepts in your subconscious mind to make important decisions and choices. Once you are aware of how your beliefs are wired in your brain, you will be able to tweak them.
The next step is to establish a routine or discipline to help us get from Point A to Point B and overcome the temptation of instant gratification.
How do I overcome instant gratification and gain the discipline to wait for delayed gratification?
We agree that Delayed gratification can be a powerful tool for success in many areas of life.
To set a routine, here is my GPS technique that can help you overcome instant gratification and use delayed gratification to achieve your goals:
G=Goals, P=Practise, S=Small steps
Set Clear Goals:
Create a whiteboard/ journal or anything which keeps you grounded and helps you chart your goal easily.
Think about the long-term consequences of your actions and make choices that will help you achieve your goals in the future.
Defining your goals and creating a plan to achieve them can help you stay focused on the long-term rewards of delayed gratification.
Practice Self-Control:
Learning to control your impulses and resist the temptation of immediate rewards can help you make progress toward your goals.
Create small rewards every week/ month depending on your goal so that you enjoy your cheat days.
If you find yourself faltering to your old patterns of behavior. Do not be critical, rather appreciate how far you have come.
Start your streak again and make your mind learn this new pattern/ programming and in due time it will infuse into your default behavior.
Take Small Steps:
Do not think of changing your habit pattern in a short span of time. You have acquired these habits over a very long time and in order to change start taking small steps.
While it can be tempting to seek immediate gratification, small steps toward your goals can help you progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Visualizing the outcomes you want to achieve can help you stay motivated and focused on the rewards of delayed gratification.
To have a healthy body, I keep a Deepika Padukone wallpaper as a reminder on my phone to make myself motivated to stick to my routine. Go for a workout at least 4 days/a week.
By focusing on the long-term benefits of delayed gratification and developing self-control and discipline, you can set and achieve your goals, and experience greater success in life.
But Does that mean instant gratification is evil in nature?
Not all instant gratification is bad. There’s nothing wrong with wanting or needing things, experiences, or products in a timely manner. It’s important to balance our desires with a realistic sense of timing and patience. By itself, though, instant gratification isn’t a negative thing.
Instant gratification is a powerful force if used creatively.
Instant gratification can be a very useful technique for business and marketing people.
How Can You Use Instant Gratification In Business Or Marketing?
Instant gratification can be a powerful tool in business and marketing because it can appeal to consumers’ desire for immediate rewards and pleasure. Here are a few ways that businesses and marketers can use instant gratification to their advantage:
- Offer fast and convenient services: By providing quick and convenient services, businesses can appeal to consumers who want immediate results or solutions to their problems.
- Provide instant discounts or promotions: Offering instant discounts or promotions can be a powerful way to attract customers who are looking for immediate rewards.
- Use social media to create a sense of urgency: By using social media to create a sense of urgency or scarcity, businesses can encourage customers to make impulsive decisions and take advantage of promotions or discounts.
- Use gamification or loyalty programs: Gamification or loyalty programs can provide immediate rewards or incentives for customers, encouraging them to make purchases or engage with a brand.
By incorporating instant gratification into their marketing strategies, businesses and marketers can appeal to consumers’ desire for immediate rewards and increase the chances of making a sale. However, it is important to balance the use of instant gratification with long-term customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Striking a balance between delayed gratification and instant gratification can be challenging, but it is an important aspect of achieving long-term goals and leading a fulfilling life.
Remember that it is important to find a balance between delayed gratification and instant gratification. It is okay to enjoy immediate rewards and pleasures, as long as they do not interfere with your long-term goals.
Many of today’s maladies appear to result from individuals succumbing to the lures of instant satisfaction – living above one’s means, sliding into debt, social media addiction, substance misuse, relationship disintegration, and even mental health difficulties.
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Kindly post your comments below with your thoughts.
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