Comments on: Ability to delay gratification can help with routine maintenance http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:04:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Can you delay your legal gratification? | Fearfully Optimistic http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-34269 Can you delay your legal gratification? | Fearfully Optimistic Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:05:19 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-34269 [...] couple of weeks ago I saw on Unclutterer an article from the New Yorker about a study that occurred long ago but the implications of which are just [...] [...] couple of weeks ago I saw on Unclutterer an article from the New Yorker about a study that occurred long ago but the implications of which are just [...]

]]> By: Soochi http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33957 Soochi Thu, 28 May 2009 11:05:34 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33957 Interesting post. My father's take on buying anything that was not a necessity was to wait for three days. If one still had a burning desire to have it, buy it then. Most of the time, one doesn't. Course, I don't always do this but it sure works. Interesting post. My father’s take on buying anything that was not a necessity was to wait for three days. If one still had a burning desire to have it, buy it then. Most of the time, one doesn’t. Course, I don’t always do this but it sure works.

]]> By: Donna http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33949 Donna Thu, 28 May 2009 02:19:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33949 In the origional study, the kids were offered a selection of treats (pretzels, cookies, marshmallows, etc) and were able to pick their favorite. I did a test like this today (with my two four year old daughters who were adopted from China several years ago). I video taped some of it and posted the results on my blog. It was really interesting and now I'm searching for more about this study online. That's how I found this blog. Donna http://2happy.typepad.com In the origional study, the kids were offered a selection of treats (pretzels, cookies, marshmallows, etc) and were able to pick their favorite. I did a test like this today (with my two four year old daughters who were adopted from China several years ago). I video taped some of it and posted the results on my blog. It was really interesting and now I’m searching for more about this study online. That’s how I found this blog.

Donna
http://2happy.typepad.com

]]> By: Irulan24 http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33927 Irulan24 Wed, 27 May 2009 20:23:03 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33927 @ Chris: You are right that the desirability of the treat is extremely important. It's also relatively easy to control for - the original researchers could have just given the children a simple survey about how much they like the marshmallow (or all of the available treats), and then excluded the children who didn't like/want the treats from their statistical tests, or tested them to see if their delay was different from kids who liked the treats. @ Chris: You are right that the desirability of the treat is extremely important. It’s also relatively easy to control for – the original researchers could have just given the children a simple survey about how much they like the marshmallow (or all of the available treats), and then excluded the children who didn’t like/want the treats from their statistical tests, or tested them to see if their delay was different from kids who liked the treats.

]]> By: Lily http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33869 Lily Wed, 27 May 2009 08:47:29 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33869 That's very interesting! It tells a lot about spoiled vs non-spoiled children... and we all are a little "spoiled children" even in adulthood. That’s very interesting! It tells a lot about spoiled vs non-spoiled children… and we all are a little “spoiled children” even in adulthood.

]]> By: Dia http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33863 Dia Wed, 27 May 2009 01:14:22 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33863 Thanks for sharing this! & interesting correlation with SAT scores, etc - makes sense! As Maren says, 'sit with it' is such a good philosophy - if I'm not sure & wait on something, whether it's something physical or a class, like Maren, I often realize I'm not as interested as I first thought, & prioritize doing/buying something else. Thanks for sharing this! & interesting correlation with SAT scores, etc – makes sense! As Maren says, ’sit with it’ is such a good philosophy – if I’m not sure & wait on something, whether it’s something physical or a class, like Maren, I often realize I’m not as interested as I first thought, & prioritize doing/buying something else.

]]> By: Maren http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33839 Maren Tue, 26 May 2009 18:15:07 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33839 This is something I have really been working on changing for myself. I have found that if I wait, I usually don't want the same thing hours or a few months down the line. If I had purchased it, I would probably not be using it. This is something I have really been working on changing for myself. I have found that if I wait, I usually don’t want the same thing hours or a few months down the line. If I had purchased it, I would probably not be using it.

]]> By: Leonie http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33838 Leonie Tue, 26 May 2009 18:13:48 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33838 @ Bryan good point... :-) It would be fun to watch the videos mentioned. Kids can be hilarious and the mention of the kids who turn their back on the treat is quite funny. @ Bryan

good point… :-)

It would be fun to watch the videos mentioned. Kids can be hilarious and the mention of the kids who turn their back on the treat is quite funny.

]]> By: Leonie http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33837 Leonie Tue, 26 May 2009 18:12:36 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33837 I liked the anecdote about the girl's brother who broke into the stash of toys and was "encouraged" by the teachers not to go into the room anymore. Having read the article, I am impressed by the care that the researcher took to design it. But as he points out with regards to his next study, there are 99 uninteresting reasons why the experiment could fail...such as teachers not following a plan or a field trip that day... sigh...I hear you. Thanks Erin for this great link. I liked the anecdote about the girl’s brother who broke into the stash of toys and was “encouraged” by the teachers not to go into the room anymore.

Having read the article, I am impressed by the care that the researcher took to design it. But as he points out with regards to his next study, there are 99 uninteresting reasons why the experiment could fail…such as teachers not following a plan or a field trip that day…

sigh…I hear you.

Thanks Erin for this great link.

]]> By: Sheena http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33830 Sheena Tue, 26 May 2009 17:45:13 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33830 This was an excellent article Erin. Thanks for that! This was an excellent article Erin. Thanks for that!

]]> By: Bryan http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33825 Bryan Tue, 26 May 2009 17:24:41 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33825 @Leonie: Perhaps instead of being alturistic they were being entrepreneurial: "If I wait 15 minutes, I can eat mine and then sell my 2nd one to one of these impatient kids for quite a profit!" @Leonie: Perhaps instead of being alturistic they were being entrepreneurial: “If I wait 15 minutes, I can eat mine and then sell my 2nd one to one of these impatient kids for quite a profit!”

]]> By: Another Deb http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33820 Another Deb Tue, 26 May 2009 16:28:41 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33820 As a teacher, I agree that delay of gratification is a skill that needs to be taught. Students (and adults) are now becoming less and less able to exert themselves with patience since our culture provides instant everything, high speed unlimited choices and auto-functions galore. My favorite quote during a recent research project came about five minutes in to the computer time: "There's nothing about DNA on the Internet!" After years of online participation in a weight loss blog, I have read numerous shared strategies for delaying gratification. The visualization techniques mentioned in the article give me hope that we can apply the research to many things we need to work on as adults. The application to uncluttering is very significant. As my summer vacation begins, I have a long list of home projects waiting for me. Although I was exhausted, I forced myself to tackle a project that was physically tiring yet organizationally fulfilling. Now my wasted storage area by the laundry room has a pretty new coat of paint, cleaned and sealed tile floor, upgraded sink and the beginnings of an efficient craft-sewing space after only a weekend's efforts. Sure, I could have just kept slogging away at craft projects from the crowded desk, but that distracts me from my job-type work (meaning: I can procrastinate even more than I already do!) Now I can delegate the task to the space and truly feel rewarded for the delay of my gratifiation. Time spent at the hobby can be separated from time spent on deskwork. Thanks for sharing this fascinating article! As a teacher, I agree that delay of gratification is a skill that needs to be taught. Students (and adults) are now becoming less and less able to exert themselves with patience since our culture provides instant everything, high speed unlimited choices and auto-functions galore. My favorite quote during a recent research project came about five minutes in to the computer time: “There’s nothing about DNA on the Internet!”

After years of online participation in a weight loss blog, I have read numerous shared strategies for delaying gratification. The visualization techniques mentioned in the article give me hope that we can apply the research to many things we need to work on as adults.

The application to uncluttering is very significant. As my summer vacation begins, I have a long list of home projects waiting for me. Although I was exhausted, I forced myself to tackle a project that was physically tiring yet organizationally fulfilling. Now my wasted storage area by the laundry room has a pretty new coat of paint, cleaned and sealed tile floor, upgraded sink and the beginnings of an efficient craft-sewing space after only a weekend’s efforts.

Sure, I could have just kept slogging away at craft projects from the crowded desk, but that distracts me from my job-type work (meaning: I can procrastinate even more than I already do!) Now I can delegate the task to the space and truly feel rewarded for the delay of my gratifiation. Time spent at the hobby can be separated from time spent on deskwork.

Thanks for sharing this fascinating article!

]]> By: J http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33813 J Tue, 26 May 2009 15:19:09 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33813 Great post! And thanks for providing a link to the longer article about the "delayed gratification" research. How we think about difficult or unpleasant tasks can make a huge difference. The article ends: “We should give marshmallows to every kindergartner,” he says. “We should say, ‘You see this marshmallow? You don’t have to eat it. You can wait. Here’s how.’ ” I might add something like, "It's okay if you still choose to eat it." Thanks again! Great post! And thanks for providing a link to the longer article about the “delayed gratification” research.

How we think about difficult or unpleasant tasks can make a huge difference.

The article ends: “We should give marshmallows to every kindergartner,” he says. “We should say, ‘You see this marshmallow? You don’t have to eat it. You can wait. Here’s how.’ ”

I might add something like, “It’s okay if you still choose to eat it.”

Thanks again!

]]> By: Erin Doland http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33812 Erin Doland Tue, 26 May 2009 15:10:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33812 @Leonie -- Yes, if you read the article, you'd see that they also performed the test with toys and other non-food products. @Leonie — Yes, if you read the article, you’d see that they also performed the test with toys and other non-food products.

]]> By: Erin Doland http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33810 Erin Doland Tue, 26 May 2009 15:08:59 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33810 @Chris -- If you read the article, you'll see that the children had a choice of treats. It's called a "marshmallow test" because the marshmallow was the most requested treat. @Chris — If you read the article, you’ll see that the children had a choice of treats. It’s called a “marshmallow test” because the marshmallow was the most requested treat.

]]> By: Leonie http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33805 Leonie Tue, 26 May 2009 13:40:19 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33805 I'm an experimental economist and we design experiments like this for savings etc. Chris has a very good point - yes if you knew you only wanted one marshmellow, then you would have no incentive to wait...UNLESS you happen to be alturistic and decided to get a second to share ;-). There's probably a lot more to the study than just one simple test. In my own work, we have more than just one measure. Delayed gratification, however, does have its rewards. I've noticed it with my own children. One delays gratification and the other doesn't when it comes to spending. But both regretfully, still have very messy rooms... I better read that article and work on that! I’m an experimental economist and we design experiments like this for savings etc. Chris has a very good point – yes if you knew you only wanted one marshmellow, then you would have no incentive to wait…UNLESS you happen to be alturistic and decided to get a second to share ;-) .

There’s probably a lot more to the study than just one simple test. In my own work, we have more than just one measure.

Delayed gratification, however, does have its rewards. I’ve noticed it with my own children. One delays gratification and the other doesn’t when it comes to spending. But both regretfully, still have very messy rooms…

I better read that article and work on that!

]]> By: Chris Gee http://unclutterer.com/2009/05/26/ability-to-delay-gratification-can-help-with-routine-maintenance/comment-page-1/#comment-33804 Chris Gee Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:43 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=5492#comment-33804 Very interesting, thanks! (Is there a flaw in the experiment: maybe some kids knew they only wanted one marshmallow, so they had no incentive to wait 15 minutes for something they did not want and which would have cluttered their lives. Of course, I have no easy explanation for the 40 years of empirical evidence that followed that fateful marshmallow...) Very interesting, thanks! (Is there a flaw in the experiment: maybe some kids knew they only wanted one marshmallow, so they had no incentive to wait 15 minutes for something they did not want and which would have cluttered their lives. Of course, I have no easy explanation for the 40 years of empirical evidence that followed that fateful marshmallow…)

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