Module 1.2

The Discipline Problem

Our fast-paced world is filled with quick fixes and "easy" solutions; however, these "solutions" are actually part of the problem. Most of society struggles to prioritize long-term goals over immediate gratification, letting their blocker voice win over their builder voice most of the time.

Why We Struggle with Discipline: Long-Term Goals vs. Immediate Gratification

You might feel as if you're personally failing when you choose immediate gratification over long-term goals. However, it's actually hardwired into your DNA! Our instincts to avoid pain and seek pleasure are not "personal flaws" but survival mechanisms deeply embedded in our brains.

Our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. This wiring ensured our ancestors' survival by responding to immediate threats like predators or food shortages. 

Today, because threats are less immediate, this wiring often leads to unhealthy and unproductive behaviors. Our environments have evolved, but our biological programming hasn't, making us prone to easy choices and comfort-seeking behaviors that often conflict with our long-term goals and health.

Recognizing this mismatch is the first step toward meaningful change. By understanding that our preference for comfort over challenge is a biological tendency rather than a personal fault, we can start to take back our biology and train our minds to override these instincts.

Example #1: Digital Distractions

Allie wakes up in the morning and immediately picks up her phone to start scrolling through Instagram. As she begins her workday, she keeps picking up her phone to get a quick hit of dopamine and a distraction from the challenging task at hand.

Before she realizes it, she's been scrolling for an hour instead of working on her big project at work. When she gets home, she sits on the couch and continues to scroll on her phone. Soon enough, it's 7:30 pm and she hasn't made dinner yet, so she just orders something instead.

Of course, her phone is the last thing she sees before she closes her eyes to fall asleep.

Sound familiar? Digital platforms are designed to captivate our attention and, as a result, exploit our natural tendencies for immediate pleasure. For example, social media uses sophisticated algorithms to keep us engaged for hours, hindering our ability to focus on meaningful, productive tasks.

This constant bombardment of information and entertainment makes it increasingly difficult to exercise the discipline necessary for personal growth.

So What's The Big Deal?

If you don't have goals or aspirations for your life, then it is stealing nothing—keep scrolling and watching short, entertaining videos on your phone.

If you're like us in the Neuro-Nudge community, however, then it's stealing precious time you could and should be dedicating toward accomplishing something you really care about.

Pick one of your goals, any goal. Now, imagine if you spent even half the time you spend on social media working toward that goal instead of the endless scrolling of entertaining posts and videos.

You may think you don't spend much time on social media, but the average internet user spends 143 minutes a day on it!

Suggested Resource: If you want to learn more about the dark side of social media and its grip on our daily lives, The Social Dilemma on Netflix is an eye-opening documentary!

Common Objections

I enjoy social media - it's no different than other ways of relaxing.

Our perspective: 

Social media sites build and test algorithms in several ways to ensure they manipulate your brain into becoming addicted to these online platforms. Think of social media as smoking cigarettes to relax. 

Is there some component of relaxation? Sure.

Does this mean you should be smoking cigarettes to relax? Probably not. 

While you may enjoy social media, if the platforms weren't designed to capture as much of your attention as possible, you would likely spend far less time on social media than you currently do.

I learn stuff on social media - it's always showing me informational clips.

Our perspective: 

You may watch educational videos on social media, and while this might be more informative than watching a cat knock items off counters, it is far from actual learning. Watching 10-60-second clips of random informative topics is not going to stick in your memory effectively.


If you genuinely want to become knowledgeable about something, there are far better routes than watching whatever the Meta algorithm wants to show you.

Example #2: Junk Food

Let's look at another example. Jacob cannot seem to stop eating junk food. He wakes up in the morning and has two bowls of Captain Crunch. Donuts are in the breakroom when he gets to the office, and he just can't help himself.

He grabs a meal from McDonald's for lunch, and when he gets home from work, he puts a frozen pizza in the oven. No matter how hard he tries, he just can't say no to unhealthy food! 

Just like social media, the food industry has perfected creating addictive products by combining high levels of sugar, salt, and fat—combinations rarely found in nature. These foods trigger strong cravings, leading to unhealthy habits. Fast food, full of these ingredients, makes it harder for healthier, natural foods to compete.

These hyper-palatable foods not only taste addictive but also have a long shelf life, making them highly accessible and outnumbering healthier options. Fast food outlets and processed snacks are everywhere, from cities to rural areas, making them the easy choice over healthier options that take more time and effort.

It's a constant battle to strengthen the builder voice when the blocker voice is tempted everywhere. Modern society isn't changing, so it's up to you to fight back. The best way is to train your self-control, so you have more say in what actions you take. And that's exactly what we'll cover in the next section.

Suggested Reading: If you struggle with junk food, food addiction, and unhealthy eating habits, read The Pleasure Trap by Dr. Douglas Lisle – you’ll get a deep dive into the science behind our cravings and practical strategies for reclaiming a healthy, balanced diet.

Exercise:

Identify an area of your life in which you've been succumbing to immediate gratification rather than aligning yourself with long-term goals. Here are a few categories to get you started:

  • Health and Fitness: Are you consistently making healthy choices regarding diet and exercise, or are you often giving in to cravings and skipping workouts?

  • Career and Education: Are you investing time and effort into furthering your career or education, or are you frequently procrastinating and opting for short-term distractions instead?

  • Personal Finance: Are you saving and investing money for long-term financial goals, or are you spending impulsively on non-essentials?

  • Relationships: Are you nurturing meaningful relationships and investing time in building strong connections, or are you prioritizing short-term pleasures over deeper, long-lasting bonds?

  • Personal Development: Are you dedicating time to personal growth activities such as reading, learning new skills, or pursuing hobbies, or are you frequently wasting time on mindless activities?