GRATIFICATION OVER TIME

Manilka Ediriweera feels it’s worth waiting to achieve long-term success

Have you found yourself putting off tasks that you should be doing? Maybe you’ve delayed working on a business plan to execute that brilliant entrepreneurial idea you have had for years. Or perhaps you’ve avoided that workout by scrolling on your phone, knowing full well that you will gain more by visiting the gym.

And you know that getting these tasks done will benefit you, yet you choose to procrastinate.

Technology, social media and consumer culture have made it easier than ever to indulge in instant gratification. From ordering a meal with a few taps on your phone to getting AI to generate ad copy for you in seconds, the temptation of instant gratification is great.

Instant gratification refers to the tendency to forego a future benefit in favour of a less rewarding but more immediate gain. In theory, why would anyone consciously select an option that may bring fewer results, knowing that the longer-term option is better?

It’s because the allure of immediate pleasure is powerful, tangible and satisfying in the moment.

This seemingly harmless task of seeking temporary and instant pleasure can prevent you from achieving bigger long-term goals. It can lead to frustration and failure in your endeavours as you favour immediate temptation instead of staying committed to your larger vision.

And that is where delayed gratification becomes important. Delayed gratification refers to the act of steering clear of short-term rewards in favour of larger long-term benefits.

While instant gratification is almost instinctual, delaying gratification is a skill that some of us acquire. It requires patience, discipline and the ability to focus on long-term rewards rather than settling for quick fixes.

Success in life and business rarely happens overnight. Many so-called overnight successes are the result of years of hard work, dedication and persistence. Such stories are often misleading because they fail to reveal the behind-the-scenes work, commitment and effort that went in to building a business.

Behind every victory is a journey filled with setbacks, learning curves and persistence.

When you adopt a long-term mindset, you begin viewing your progress through a broader lens, which frees you from the pressure of instant satisfaction. As a result, even when the going gets tough, you’ll stay committed to your goals. This enables you to free yourself from the desire for immediate gratification and transform multiple aspects of your life.

Focussing on long-term goals and rewards instead of being distracted by short-term gains can improve your mental stability, and help you stay the course. Delayed gratification helps you gain the emotional intelligence you need to adequately meet your requirements, navigate challenges and make sound decisions.

It will also enable you to succeed academically and professionally. When you can successfully resist seeking short-term bursts of pleasure and wait for a better reward in the long run, you build competencies that will enhance your ability to excel in all areas of life.

In both personal and professional relationships, delaying gratification can help you prioritise the needs of others where needed. However, if you only seek immediate pleasures, it will result in you constantly putting your wants ahead of others’ needs. This will hamper your ability to form and maintain meaningful long-lasting relationships.

Addiction is a form of instant gratification. However, by learning to delay it, you can reduce harmful and addictive behaviour. It will also help you develop healthier coping mechanisms, and improve your mental and physical wellbeing.

While delayed gratification is a good thing for the most part, it’s important to strike a balance between delaying it and enjoying life in the present. In some cases, delaying gratification can lead to burnout and missing out on valuable experiences. The key is to find a healthy balance between knowing when to hold off for a bigger return and when to indulge in short-term rewards of pleasures.

Here are a few things you can do to develop or improve your ability to delay gratification.

Reflect on whether short-term pleasures truly lead to satisfaction.

Practise mindfulness to improve self-discipline and the strength needed to put off seeking immediate pleasures in favour of achieving larger rewards down the line.

After successful efforts to delay gratification, treat yourself to a meaningful reward. This reinforces the value of waiting and motivates you to continue practising self-control.

Since instant gratification can be a hard habit to break, give yourself some grace as you work towards delaying gratification.

So the next time you are tempted by a quick fix, remember that great things take great effort and time.