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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?

#131
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a weird alternative strategy. First a backstory, when I quit smoking, I tried what you did, making my vice less accessible/desirable using the sort of strategies you'd find in top 10 ways to quit smoking article. After failing at that for the umpteenth time, I did the opposite. I bought my favourite cigarettes, bought some very nice cigars, fresh pipe tobacco and put it all on my desk where I have to study all…

This is a good point. Those moments where you are ambivalent about a course of action are self-defining moments. If you want to quit smoking, you need to become a person who chooses not to smoke when they have the opportunity to. The problem with habit is that you're no longer choosing. By keeping your cigarettes close, you gave yourself many ambivalent moments in which to build the self that you wanted to become.

And to look at it another way:

When the object is out of common sight, you only encounter your self-defining vice moments when you're at your most vulnerable (because you willfully sought the thing out).

When you bring yourself into more frequent contact, you provide yourself with more training opportunities when your willpower is greater (because maybe you're already busy, or happy, etc).

Thus, even if you fall victim to the poor choices you're trying to avoid the same number of absolute times, you've drastically increased the number of times you make good choices. And the percentage of times you choose good choices over bad.

Counterintuitive, but I like it!

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

#132

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…

"Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning..." Expanding on this... Don't use mindless browsing as a filler at all. Ever. If your build is gonna take a minute, don't reflexively switch over to Facebook/email. Sit there and think/meditate. Stand up or do some pushups. Browsing Facebook is fine when that's the activity you're doing. Set aside some Facebook browsing time, timebox i…

Wonderful advice. Thank you for sharing.

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

#134

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…

I so much agree wih your post. All your advice is right and should help but there is one thing I am wondering: Why are you on Hacker News? Reading and in particular commenting which is an instant gratification activity (quick post, many likes paired with non-stop checking of the thread). Is this not against your advice or is it the end of the work day in your time zone?

"Do as I say; not as I do"

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

#136
post #36

I'm surprised no one mentioned meditation yet! A regular meditation practice helps with impulse control (sitting still for X minutes requires exercising self control) and that will help with resisting the urge to do tasks which are immediately gratifying, which will free up time and energy for activities which lead to long term growth. Two things really helped me with meditation: setting a timer, and meditating every…

This is very good book teaching about mediation in a geeks way: https://www.amazon.com/Search-Inside-Yourself-Unexpected-Ach...

Highly recommended.

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

#137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I so much agree wih your post. All your advice is right and should help but there is one thing I am wondering: Why are you on Hacker News? Reading and in particular commenting which is an instant gratification activity (quick post, many likes paired with non-stop checking of the thread). Is this not against your advice or is it the end of the work day in your time zone?

He reached enlightenment and so has returned to samsara to guide the rest of us.

Only to reflect back on this at a later day and head to the river.

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

#138
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right. So regardless of his qualifications, you would have objected to his suggestion. So why ask at all?

I think brango's point is that it can be dangerous to give medical advice if you are not qualified / not a MD, & even then, it should be given only after proper examination

The MD will not even give a public advice public about sensitive subjects.

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

#139
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Do not grab phone/computer etc. and mindlessly browse first thing in the morning..." Expanding on this... Don't use mindless browsing as a filler at all. Ever. If your build is gonna take a minute, don't reflexively switch over to Facebook/email. Sit there and think/meditate. Stand up or do some pushups. Browsing Facebook is fine when that's the activity you're doing. Set aside some Facebook browsing time, timebox i…

// If your build is gonna take a minute ... Same applies if you read a tutorial post while you wait your build to finish ?

I would say yes.
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