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Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

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Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#51

Post by antoinealb »

kichuku wrote: post #49
mrleinad wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fruits contain fructose, which is another form of sugar, and not quite good when consumed in large quantities. https://paleoleap.com/10-reasons-why-fructose-is-bad/

I doubt this. Anything naturally occurring and has existed for millions of years cannot be bad for us. No matter, what the "research" says. And if you do want to go by research, please read the works and watch videos of "Robert Lustig" ( http://profiles.ucsf.edu/robert.lustig )

Not sure if satire or not, but plenty of naturally occuring things which existed for millions of years are bad for human beings. Poisonous plants for are an example.

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#52

Post by eeZah7Ux »

sprafa wrote: post #41
eeZah7Ux wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> already flexed your self discipline muscle ...what? Is there any evidence that self discipline needs to warm up?

Current understanding of willpower is that does, indeed, function like a "muscle". I got this from reading a few books and articles and it might be wrong, but it's my impression.

Training willpower in general is one thing - doing "warmup" just like a real muscle it's a different thing.

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#54

Post by glogla »

kichuku wrote: post #49
mrleinad wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fruits contain fructose, which is another form of sugar, and not quite good when consumed in large quantities. https://paleoleap.com/10-reasons-why-fructose-is-bad/

I doubt this. Anything naturally occurring and has existed for millions of years cannot be bad for us. No matter, what the "research" says. And if you do want to go by research, please read the works and watch videos of "Robert Lustig" ( http://profiles.ucsf.edu/robert.lustig )

> Anything naturally occurring and has existed for millions of years cannot be bad for us. No matter, what the "research" says.

Like plutonium?

The difference is, that fruit tends to contain a lot of fiber, which makes the fructose harder and slower to absorb. So fruit is okayish.

However, fruit juice is just sugar water worse for you than Coke, so keep that in mind.

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#55

Post by basdevries »

strawcomb wrote: post #16

Some things I'd recommend, off the top of my head: - Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning. (Or before bed. Or at any time really.) But doing it first thing really starts your day on the wrong foot. - When seeking to relax, do not mindlessly browse the internet/social-media/tv. Read an enjoyable book. This is an order of magnitude more fulfilling and beneficial to you. And g…

Really good advice. I tried blocking some sites but whenever my 'bad side' comes up again, I always find a way to get around the block and visit the site anyway. Any recommendations on blocking a site indefinitely?

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#56

Post by [deleted] »

danesparza wrote: post #42
strawcomb wrote: post #16

Some things I'd recommend, off the top of my head: - Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning. (Or before bed. Or at any time really.) But doing it first thing really starts your day on the wrong foot. - When seeking to relax, do not mindlessly browse the internet/social-media/tv. Read an enjoyable book. This is an order of magnitude more fulfilling and beneficial to you. And g…

Strangely, this sounds like adults that I observed as a teenager. I always wondered how they could survive in such a boring existence. Now I know they were just more evolved than I was :-)

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#57

Post by terrib1e »

By realizing that there isn't enough instant gratification in the entire universe to satisfy that void in you. But a less melodramatic way is to learn to frame things differently. I agree it's a rush to create something that functions even if it doesn't solve the problem in it's entirety, but why stop there? A polished product is much more interesting and satisfying than a sample of one. I don't think there's anything wrong in hacking together a program, in fact it's probably a great way to begin a project, but you'll feel so much more fulfilled and the high will last so much longer, if you take your basic machine and add jet engines to it. By doing things the way you are you've basically created the end result so now .you can work on refactoring the best way of getting there. A bunch of little dopamine rushes is fun, but why settle for that when you can bathe in perma-rush?

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#58

Post by Delmania »

You don't. There are some great suggestions in this thread. I would definitely recommend reducing social media usage, random browsing, picking up meditation, sleeping, and looking to learn new skills. None of those will overcome or avoid the need for instant gratification because seeking dopamine rushes is something we do no matter what. You need to change what gives you the rush. Define the end goal, break up the project into chunks, and then award yourself when you complete a chunk. This is how video games work, they divide up long-range goals into chunks, and then award you for those chunks. I'm currently training for my second-degree black belt. I have no idea when I will get it, so instead, I focus on daily practice which gives me the hit, which then combines with the long range pleasure of knowing that so long as I continue to practice and improve, I will get promoted.

Before you ask yourself how can I avoid something, it's better to ask yourself how you can use it to improve yourself. Fighting against something drains your willpower and you only have a limited amount.

Re: Ask HN: How does one overcome the need for instant gratification?

#60

Post by ovao »

kichuku wrote: post #49
mrleinad wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fruits contain fructose, which is another form of sugar, and not quite good when consumed in large quantities. https://paleoleap.com/10-reasons-why-fructose-is-bad/

I doubt this. Anything naturally occurring and has existed for millions of years cannot be bad for us. No matter, what the "research" says. And if you do want to go by research, please read the works and watch videos of "Robert Lustig" ( http://profiles.ucsf.edu/robert.lustig )

Sugarcane is naturally occurring. As are the beets used for producing beet sugars.
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