End Procrastination with The Future Self Hack
I’ve noticed something interesting about tasks people avoid. The things we procrastinate on are often the same things that matter most for our long-term success. It’s as if we’re wired to sabotage ourselves.
This isn’t a new observation, of course. People have been procrastinating since the dawn of time. What’s interesting is why we do it, and more importantly, how we might hack our brains to stop.
The Procrastination Puzzle
Here’s a thought experiment: Imagine your future self, maybe 10 years from now. Now imagine that future you could send a message back in time about the task you’re currently avoiding. What would they say?
It’s a simple question, but it cuts to the heart of why we procrastinate. Our brains are really bad at connecting our present selves with our future selves. When neuroscientists look at brain scans, they find that we think about our future selves in the same way we think about strangers.
This disconnect leads to what economists call “temporal discounting.” We value immediate rewards far more than future ones, even when the future rewards are objectively better. It’s why we choose to watch another episode on Netflix instead of working on that side project that could change our career.
Hacking the System
But here’s the interesting part: we can hack this system. By actively imagining our future selves and connecting with them emotionally, we can bridge this mental gap.
Here’s a simple hack to try:
- Spend five minutes writing a letter from your future self to your present self. Make it as vivid as possible. What does your life look like? What have you achieved? Most importantly, what would this future you say about the task you’re currently avoiding?
- Now, write a response from your present self back to your future self. Ask questions. Express your fears. Be honest about why you’re procrastinating.
- Switch back to your future self and respond again. Keep this dialogue going for as long as it’s productive.
This exercise might feel a bit weird at first. That’s okay. The point isn’t to predict the future accurately. It’s to create an emotional connection with your future self.
The Compounding Effect of Small Actions
One thing that becomes clear when you do this exercise is the compounding effect of small actions over time. Your future self knows something that’s easy to forget in the day-to-day grind: those small tasks you’re avoiding now can have enormous consequences down the line.
This is true in almost every domain. In programming, it might be refactoring that messy piece of code now versus dealing with a big ball of mud later. In business, it could be having that difficult conversation with a co-founder now versus letting resentment build up over years. In personal life, it might be going for a run today versus dealing with health issues a decade from now.
The tasks we procrastinate on are often the ones that don’t have immediate payoffs but have huge long-term implications. By connecting with our future selves, we can bring those long-term consequences into the present and motivate ourselves to act.
The Startup of You
There’s an analogy here to startups. Good founders are obsessed with the future. They’re always thinking several moves ahead, imagining what their company could become. In a sense, they’re in constant dialogue with their company’s “future self.”
We can apply the same principle to our personal lives. Treat yourself like a startup. Your present self is the founder, and your future self is the successful company you’re trying to build. What does that future look like? What small actions can you take now to make it a reality?
The Real Meaning of Productivity
This approach changes how we think about productivity. It’s not about cramming more tasks into each day. It’s about identifying the small number of actions that will have the biggest long-term impact and actually doing them.
Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is to take a walk and think deeply about where you want to be in 10 years. Other times, it’s forcing yourself to sit down and do that one task you’ve been avoiding for weeks.
A Challenge
Here’s a challenge: For the next week, start each day with a five-minute conversation with your future self. Ask them what’s the most important thing you could do today. Then do it.
You might be surprised at how this small hack can change your behavior. It’s not about willpower or discipline. It’s about changing your perspective and bringing the future into the present.
In the end, the best way to predict the future is to create it. And the best way to create it is to start with the small actions you’re avoiding right now. Your future self will thank you.
Thank you for reading. Check out Lifehack All-Access Membership for more hacks.
