One of the most important lessons I got from Profit First by Michael Michalowicz is that most human beings are really bad at following a plan to get a reward at the end. Think: retirement, profits, savings.
(This is not a reason to not do those things. Just insight into why it’s so hard).
Delayed gratification just… gets delayed indefinitely. Especially when it comes to things that bring pleasure or enjoyment.
(You’ve heard how bad Americans are at doing that, right?)
But here’s the thing. Especially during a stressful pandemic year, this often just leads to days and days of drudgery. When there’s this whole world of small, daily pleasures that actually builds you up and helps you 1) enjoy life more and 2) become capable of the kind of creative output you want to do.
I started trying to apply this to my personal life this year, and I’m slowly making progress. Despite a ton of setbacks and stresses overall, I’m enjoying my days a lot more than a year ago.
Here’s the thing: you can’t “save up” a positive, happy life.
DO NOT wait until the weekend to read your favorite book for 10 minutes.
DEFINITELY DO NOT wait until you feel fit to exercise for 10 minutes (do that today).
And DON’T wait until you have time, it feels right, or the weekend to express love to your family, stop everything and sit down at eye level with children, or send a catch-up text to a friend.
In order to enjoy most of the good things in life, before it’s “too late” and before you’re “too old” and before those moments pass you by, you have to to take it right off the top of your everyday life.