We Need to Slow Down
Instant gratification is the desire to experience pleasure or fulfilment without delay or interruption. Basically, it’s having what you want, when you want it. It’s why we choose a text over a phone call or an Uber over walking. Yes, the former are all quicker and easier but the latter have long-term benefits, such as physical health or to save money. So why do we fall victim to instant gratification over and over again?
Is Real-Time Real Life?
In today’s world, a major source of instant gratification is technology, particularly mobile phones. Apple Pay is there when we want to purchase things, Uber is there when we want a cab and Facetime is there when we want to see our loved ones’ faces.
And there is a growing need for user experience to be even more instant. Take the introduction of “live” videos on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. Or what about Netflix having a “playback speed” button, so we now don’t have to endure a show at its normal speed… we can watch it sped up!
Attention Span of a Goldfish
Our average attention span today is thought to be just 8 seconds. That’s shorter than a goldfish’s - theirs is 9 seconds. So I guess you could say we have the attention span of a goldfish, with a hangover. But perhaps even more alarmingly, is that our attention span averaged at 12 seconds in the Year 2000. This suggests that, as a species, we are becoming less and less able to focus on one thing. The idea of having to wait, or work, or think is too difficult for our brains to comprehend when it is so used to feeling pleasure instantly, without really having to do anything at all.
The Bigger Picture
Let’s take an extreme circumstance. In 2018, the number of fatal accidents caused by distracted driving was 110, just 7 less than those due to drink driving. By distraction I mean texting, applying make-up, adjusting the Sat Nav, smoking, eating or drinking. Research shows that the average amount of time a driver can safely divert their attention from the road is just 2 seconds, in comparison to sending a text, which takes 5 seconds. This shows that at the very core of it, human beings are so addicted to instant gratification that even driving a car is not stimulating enough, and therefore we are willing to risk lives in order to feel gratified.
A slightly more tentative example is antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world and as antibiotics become less and less effective, infections such as pneumonia and blood poisoning are becoming harder to treat. A study showed that between 2000 and 2015, overall use of antibiotics per capita increased by 26%. Western culture has become so accustomed to having everything at our fingertips, and perhaps this extends to antibiotics. After all we simply do not have time to feel unwell – it distracts from work, holidays, date night. We need to be cured, and quick. The consequence? Antibiotic resistance. It might seem a bit of a leap, but food for thought.
DIY (Delay It Yourself)
So, what’s the best way to disentangle our lives from instant gratification? Delayed gratification. The crux of this is remembering that everything we do is a choice. We choose whether we go on Instagram or read a book, we choose whether we order online or visit a shop. It’s about making mindful decisions and taking ownership of your sources of gratification. Think about exactly what it is that is getting in the way of delayed gratification. Is it social media, TV or Uber Eats. Be realistic but firm with yourself. Give your phone to your friend or partner during the day and only go on it in the evening. Notice when you start to feel annoyed at something, like the queue at the supermarket or the Amazon parcel that is taking a day longer to arrive than it said it would. Take a mental note of these moments and embrace the feeling of frustration. The more we force ourselves to slow down and to deal with disruptions, the better we will be at it. And on that note, my Deliveroo’s just arrived…
Written by Bethany Lane.
My name is Beth, I’m 22 and currently living in East London. You can normally find me nursing a hangover, eating a block of Brie and trying to convince my friends that Planes, Trains and Automobiles is the best film ever. Writing is a new venture for me and I’m excited to see where it goes.