"For once, social scientists have discovered a flaw in the human psyche that will not be tedious to correct. You may not even need a support group. You could try on your own by starting with this simple New Year’s resolution: Have fun ... now!"This sounds so right for the season... plus it's a resolution we have a fighting chance of being able to keep. Odd it may seem, putting off until tomorrow what could be enjoyed today is a common procrastination. With no deadlines or when a location is convenient, we are more like to put off until tomorrow what could be enjoyed today. In Egypt, I knew someone working on foreign geophysical crew who managed to miss seeing the Great Pyramid at Giza. What have you missed?
Tierney, the article's author goes onto to explain, "Once you start procrastinating pleasure, it can become a self-perpetuating process if you fixate on some imagined nirvana. The longer you wait to open that prize bottle of wine, the more special the occasion has to be." Not unlike waiting for the perfect person or moment... perfection is an ideal, not reality. The whole point of many carpe diem (seize the day) poems was the moment or occasion would pass and you could die before enjoying what you could have had. Don't waiting for a special occasion to indulge yourself, declare one, named or not, and celebrate.
Findings - The Psychology Behind Putting Off What Can Be Enjoyed Now
