Here’s a mental model we use at IWT:

People’s future selves are aspirational.

Oh, you want to know what I’m planning *next month?*

OF COURSE I’ll floss every day, exercise 10x/week, & volunteer every Sun.

But today? Well, I’m really busy…

What this means for you...(1/3)

-We prefer to defer pain (“I’ll do that next wk...”)
-Our current behavior is a better predictor of future behavior than our aspirational identity
-The longer the time horizon, the more inaccurate our predictions are (e.g., “I’ll start volunteering when I retire”)
(2/4)

This is one reason I’m skeptical of people who say that once they retire, they’ll start woodworking, traveling, volunteering, & advising. There are entire communities who live for a “tomorrow” that’s 10+ years away and highly aspirational
(3/4)

It’s easy to believe that your aspirational self will retire & suddenly change. But most people in that situation lack the skills to try something new. It’s been decades since they even tried!

Better to start today. Start donating, traveling, learning a language. Don't wait