Now or never: In a world of instant gratification how can we make a ‘10-year plan’ happen?
As I grew older and somewhat wiser, the excitement of answering the question “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” slowly gave way to the uncertainty of “How would I even get there?” And this comes as no surprise—our overactive imaginations often fuel the fire of anxiety.
From total strangers to your mom, everyone expects a concrete answer about what we want to do and who we want to be. But a 10-year plan is not just a goal; it’s a whole process. Beyond having the right business strategy or refining your personal brand, it demands the mental discipline to stay consistent, make calculated choices, and develop the resilience to rise after failing.
But I’m a Millennial. I grew up in a world of instant gratification. Every movie is on-demand, every product is delivered to my door, and every virtual task is celebrated with animated confetti. So, how can I possibly preserve my youthful motivation toward a future that feels so far away? And what are some of those pervasive forces that stop me from getting there?
References
- Juárez Olguín H, Calderón Guzmán D, Hernández García E, Barragán Mejía G. The Role of Dopamine and Its Dysfunction as a Consequence of Oxidative Stress. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:9730467. doi: 10.1155/2016/9730467. Epub 2015 Dec 6. PMID: 26770661; PMCID: PMC4684895.
- Brown Undergraduate Journal of Public Health. (n.d.). What makes TikTok so addictive? An analysis of the mechanisms underlying the world’s latest social media craze. Retrieved from https://sites.brown.edu/bugph/what-makes-tiktok-so-addictive-analysis/
- Sriram , K. (2023). To What Extent Does Social Media Usage Impact the Ability to Delay Gratification and Attention Span of Teenagers in Mumbai?. British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies, 4(6), 71–86. https://doi.org/10.37745/bjmas.2022.0363
- Rozgonjuk, D., Sindermann, C., Elhai, J. D., & Montag, C. (2020). Fear of missing out (FoMO) and social media’s impact on daily life and productivity at work: Do WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat use disorders mediate that association? Addictive Behaviors, 110, 106487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106487
About the Author
Yael Mark
Yael Mark is a seasoned product manager with a true passion for behavioral economics/science. In her works, Yael is focusing on implementing applicable behavioral theories to influence user adoption, enhance retention and elevate engagement levels.
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