Consider the Advantages of Developing Delayed Satisfaction as a Habit for Better Results in All Areas of Life

Introduction

Delayed gratification is the ability to resist the temptation of an immediate reward in exchange for a larger benefit later on. When we choose to wait for something, whether it's a treat or another type of reward, we're able to better appreciate what we receive when we finally get it. We also learn how to manage our time wisely and make better decisions about what things are worth waiting for.

Everyday Examples of Delayed Gratification

• This is especially true with money. You may think that it's smarter to buy something now, but the truth is that if you can wait and save up your money, the reward will be much greater in the future. For example, buying an expensive video game today might sound tempting because it looks cool and has all kinds of new features. But buying a used copy for half the price could mean having enough money to buy two more games down the road instead of just one brand new one!

• Delayed gratification also applies to time. If you're busy working on something at work today but know that taking tomorrow off would be better for your health or mental well-being, delaying gratification means putting in extra effort so that later on in life (or even right away) when you do take time off from work or school—say during summer break—you'll feel like it's worth enjoying yourself without feeling guilty about skipping out earlier than necessary because of how much work there was left undone before leaving early!

The Marshmallow Experiment

In the 1960s, Stanford researchers conducted a series of studies to test whether children who had better self-control were more likely to succeed in life. The experiment was simple: give them a marshmallow and tell them they can eat it now, or wait 15 minutes and get two.

The results were astounding: those who delayed gratification went on to have higher SAT scores, better performance at work and greater social adjustment as adults. Kids who could delay gratification also scored higher on measures of empathy and self-esteem—and even turned out to be less likely to become obese later in life!

Why Delayed Gratification Is Important in Life

Why is delayed gratification such an important life skill?

• You can achieve long-term goals.

• You can increase your self-worth.

• You can increase your self-control.

Short Term vs. Long-Term Needs

In order to make the best choices, you'll want to think about your short-term and long-term needs. This is important because your short-term needs are more important than your long-term needs.

Short term needs include things like food, shelter, and safety. You can't live without these things. You may have heard the phrase "starve a cold—feed a fever," which means that if you don't eat when you're sick with a stomach virus (or any other illness), then it's likely that you will die from starvation before the flu or whatever else has made its way into your body runs its course.

Long term needs are things like education and career—things that aren't immediately necessary for survival but will be vital in providing you with happiness and fulfillment in life as well as financial stability in case those pesky short-terms get out of hand (which they often do).

Many people today have problems with delayed gratification and it can often lead to failures in many areas of life.

Many people today have problems with delayed gratification and it can often lead to failures in many areas of life. A person who experiences difficulty delaying gratification may struggle to stay focused on the task at hand, or may feel the need for instant gratification when faced with difficult situations.

The employee who doesn't learn how to delay gratification will find it difficult to work well on tasks that require attention for a longer period of time. He or she may be easily distracted by coworkers or other things happening around them, making it hard for him or her to focus on the task at hand. The employee who has learned how to practice delayed gratification will feel more confident during projects that take longer than expected because he/she knows they can finish them if they just stick with it!

Delaying gratification is also important in relationships because we all know that relationships take work! If you want your relationship with someone else – whether a friend, relative or partner – then you'll need some patience if things don't go exactly as planned…and this might mean delaying your desires until later so that everyone can be happy now rather than later!

Conclusion

The benefits of delayed gratification are numerous and it is a skill that all of us need to master. The ability to delay immediate rewards in favor of long-term goals is crucial for success in life. It can help you reach your goals faster, avoid unnecessary stress caused by impulsive behavior, save money and so much more!

Tim Moseley