Hey there,
When I asked my friend why he keeps postponing his book project, he shrugged and said “I’ll get to it once things settle down at work.” I nodded, recognizing the lie we all tell ourselves – that magical future moment when life becomes less busy, less complicated, less… life.
But I honestly believe that we consistently misunderstand our future selves.
Research shows we tend to imagine our future selves as entirely different people – somehow free from all our current constraints and daily chaos. This “temporal optimism bias” leads us to push important tasks forward, creating a cycle of perpetual postponement.
Think about it: your future self will face the same 24-hour limit, similar energy constraints, and probably additional responsibilities you haven’t anticipated. They’re not a superhero version of you – they’re you, just on a different day.
This matters because most of life’s important achievements require consistent investment over time. Each time we tell ourselves “after this project ends” or “once the kids are older” or “starting next month,” we’re not just postponing – we’re potentially compounding the challenge.
The solution isn’t complex, but it requires a mental shift. Instead of viewing your future self as a separate, more capable person, try this exercise:
Write a letter from your future self about one decision you’re facing today. Be realistic about the resources and constraints they’ll face. What would they want you to decide right now? What would make their life easier or harder?
This simple practice helps bridge the gap between present and future you, leading to more grounded decisions that account for real-world constraints and opportunities.
The time you have today is the best time you’ll get. Make it count.
Ready to turn that big goal from “someday” into daily progress? LifeHack All-Access gives you practical frameworks to make it happen.
