6 days ago
Science Says We Put Off the Things That Bring Us Joy—Let's Stop
Are you having trouble doing things that make you happy and don't know why? You're not alone. A new study recently released by PNAS Nexus revealed that the more you enjoy doing something, the more likely you are to put it off and do something less emotionally fulfilling. We have all the must-know information on the study, including how you can get back to doing the things that bring you joy, below.
Why we procrastinate the things we enjoy most
In June of this year, Linda Hagen and Ed O'Brien released a study that claimed, 'The longer since people's last enjoyable experience, the more they postpone returning.' They say it's because people want 'their return [to the joyful event] to be 'extra special,'' allowing them to justify not doing whatever it is that makes them happy. This conclusion came after they tested hundreds of adults, all of whom had vastly different backgrounds and interests.
'Whether by choice or by chance, people often face long gaps of time between getting to do things they love to do—time slips by,' reads the study. 'Close friends find years have passed since their last contact. Hard workers look up to realize they have not relaxed for months. Faraway family wonder when they last phoned home. After such 'long hours of waiting,' what do people do when they finally get the chance to return to happy experiences?'
O'Brien, a researcher who works in the Department of Behavioral Science of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business expanded on this further by telling the The Washington Post ''Right now' always feels insufficiently special compared to any better moment in the future 'People are missing out on lots of immediate happiness and lots of immediate enjoyment.'
Now, this phenomenon isn't exactly a new thing, but according to the study, it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic that researchers really began to see it skyrocket, with a key example being wanting to go out to eat at a restaurant.
'Once restaurants were back open and they felt safe and comfortable [people] actually waited even longer because they didn't want their first time back to a restaurant to just be on a random Tuesday without a good crowd,' O'Brien said. 'They were waiting for the perfect time to celebrate that coming back moment. So, ironically, they waited even longer.'
Another example they gave was letting an expensive bottle of wine sit on the shelf for a while in the hopes that one day you'll get to crack it open during a special occasion, even though it would taste just as good right now.
'Ironically, the thing that really builds dust is the really fine wine,' O'Brien said.
Expert-approved strategies to reclaim your joy
If you are one of the hundreds of people struggling to do the things that make you happy, there is no need to worry. According to experts, there are ways to change that.
The first step is to notice when it happens. If you find yourself procrastinating doing something you love, take note of it and try and figure out why that is. Then, once you do think about how you can change whatever it is that's holding you back. If it's time, add a few hours to your calendar every day to remind yourself to do the things you love. If it's resources, try and figure out what you need and where you can go to get those things for cheap. And if it's simply just not knowing what to do to make yourself happy, start with the little things.
'The simple little things that we take for granted every day are the very things that give us control and happiness in life.' Judy Kuriansky, PhD, a clinical psychologist on the faculty at Teachers College, Columbia University, said. 'What's something small that you can appreciate as soon as you wake up? If you're making your bed and plumping the pillows, instead of thinking of it as a chore, use the moment to appreciate that you have a comfortable bed to sleep in.'
Bottom line: Remember to slow down and take the time to do things that you love and want to do, even if it scares you.
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