“I promised myself I’d stick to a healthy diet this week, but then someone brought in a delicious chocolate cake—who could say no to that?”
“I had every intention of going for a jog, but it’s chilly and drizzling outside, and curling up to watch TV seems way more inviting.”
“I really ought to start working on that report, but what’s one more day of procrastination going to hurt?”
These thoughts are relatable for many of us. We often know what we should be doing, whether it’s hitting the gym, quitting smoking, or making that overdue phone call, yet we find it tough to summon the motivation to act. This common struggle raises an important question: Why do we fail to do what we genuinely want?
The Paradox of Our Intentions
It’s perplexing that we can want to do something yet fail to take action. This disconnect is frequently referred to as akrasia, a term that describes the struggle between our intentions and our actions. Each time we procrastinate or break a resolution without a valid reason, we are demonstrating akrasia.
So what triggers this behavior? Are we simply lazy? Not quite.
Akrasia often arises when we engage in activities with delayed benefits—such as exercising, maintaining a nutritious diet, or working on an extensive project well ahead of its deadline. While regular exercise may improve fitness over time (pun intended), the immediate rewards of a single workout are hard to notice. Similarly, beginning to work on a thesis now may alleviate future stress, but it lacks immediate gratification.
Additionally, pursuing positive activities can come with immediate drawbacks. For instance, running might yield long-term health benefits, but it also means enduring the cold and rain in the present moment. Instead, we might choose to stay indoors and enjoy some television, which feels much more appealing right now. Or, you might opt to go out with friends who are also struggling with motivation. The allure of immediate satisfaction often overshadows long-term benefits, as research in motivational psychology indicates that the greater the delay in rewards, the less likely we are to pursue those actions.
The Inner Conflict
To better understand this struggle, consider the concept of “present-you” versus “future-you.” It’s not uncommon to feel as if two conflicting voices are vying for control in your mind, one advocating for what you should do and the other for what you want. At noon, “present-you” might be enthusiastic about going for a run later, but “evening-you” may prefer the comfort of the couch and a favorite show. This phenomenon is linked to what psychologists call “time-inconsistent preferences.”
In one study, participants were asked to choose between an apple or a chocolate bar, depending on whether they wanted it now or later. Those who had to make an immediate choice often opted for the chocolate bar, while those who could choose later tended to go for the healthier apple.
The Silver Lining
The encouraging takeaway is that not following through on your intentions does not equate to laziness. The challenge lies in the inherent difficulty of motivating yourself for tasks that promise delayed rewards. In the next part of this series, we will explore effective strategies to overcome this obstacle, including ways to create personal incentives that encourage you to pursue your true desires.
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Summary
In summary, the struggle between our intentions and actions often stems from the challenge of prioritizing delayed rewards over immediate gratification. Understanding this internal conflict can help in developing strategies to better align our actions with our goals.
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