Today’s Idea
We make plans for a better tomorrow, but when it arrives, it feels just as hard as today. That gap between intention and action is called hyperbolic discounting—our tendency to undervalue the future compared to the present.
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Hyperbolic Discounting
Imagine this: I offer you $50 today or $100 in a year. Most people take the $50. But if I ask whether you’d rather have $50 in nine years or $100 in ten, almost everyone waits.
The math hasn’t changed. The time frame hasn’t changed. What’s changed is how we feel about now.
Psychologists discovered that humans (and animals) don’t discount the future in neat, rational ways. Instead of a straight line, our preference curve bends sharply toward the present—that’s why it’s called hyperbolic. We crave immediate rewards and systematically undervalue the benefits of waiting.
This shows up everywhere:
Diets start “tomorrow.”
Retirement savings get postponed.
Projects get delayed because “future me” will have more time.
But future you isn’t a superhero. Future you is just… you, tired after work, still juggling life.
Hyperbolic discounting explains why self-control is hard. We’re wired to favor the instant payoff, even when the delayed reward is bigger and better.
How You Can Apply This
Shrink the gap. Make the future feel closer. Instead of “retire in 30 years,” reframe as “freedom to quit your job in 5.” Near-term milestones counteract the bias.
Automate good choices. Remove the decision. Automatic savings, scheduled workouts, or pre-committed deadlines stop future-you from being sabotaged by present-you.
Add friction to temptation. If you want to stop impulse buying, delete saved cards from your browser. A small barrier helps today’s urge lose its edge.
Reward yourself now. Pair a long-term habit with a short-term treat—listen to your favorite podcast only at the gym, for example. This merges immediate and delayed gratification.
What To Remember
Until next time,
— Quiet Moves