As per our New Year resolution the first thing we do in New Year is buying the gym membership, but we never visit. We decide to write article or finish the presentation but we watch videos on YouTube. These are the familiar situations we face all the time in our life.
What is the Akrasia Effect?
Akrasia is a state of mind when you know what you should do but you don’t do that, you avoid doing it. It can be used as synonym of procrastination or lack of self-control. You know what should be doing right know but you don’t do that and rather you are busy doing something else, this is called Akrasia Effect.
What is the reason behind Akrasia Effect?
It happens that when we make plans we start imaging the future- how your house would after your success, how your life would be and it gives you pleasure. And at this moment your brain easily anticipates the benefits.
When it comes to realization and you think about present, you don’t imagine your future. The pleasure is short term and it’s not effective for your long run. That’s why when you wake up next morning you follow your old routine. That’s why it’s so important to learn to save pleasure for later. If you can resist the temptation, this skill will help you to understand where you are and where you want to be.
How to overcome Akrasia?
1- Apply the method of self-restraint
You can use the ‘commitment device’ strategies. It means limiting the things or set of choices in present to avoid the future consequences. For example, delete all the games or social networks before starting any important work so that you won’t be distracted by it all the time. If you want to save money then automatically transfer some of the funds in the saving account.
Limiting the things can really help you to complete your goals.
2- Don’t afraid to start
Starting any new thing is always difficult, because we are afraid of failures and criticism. It is important to take first step and you will realize that everything got very easy on the way. As soon as you get any new idea don’t take time to implement it. Don’t think too much about the results just start.
3- Schedule
It is very important to perform everything on time, because once you delay one thing, everything of the way will be delayed. For example, you think that you can complete the presentation in 5 minutes so you can take a short break and then finish it. After break you realize that you have to do other work also and now first you will complete the presentation and then other work and you are delayed for every next work. So, it is important to perform every important task on set time.