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Quick Fix Thinking

2022-05-26 Mama Minimalist

We want new stuff and we want it now. The possessions we buy often make us happy, at least for a little while (hello, dopamine!). But before we know it, today’s ‘it’ item becomes tomorrow’s clutter.

On today’s show we are examining the psychology behind quick fix thinking. Why do humans tend to prioritize instant gratification over long-term goals such as having a decluttered, minimalist home and obtaining financial security? The good news is we aren’t slaves to our DNA, and in the second part of today’s episode I’m offering my best thoughts for stepping away from quick fixes – which, by the way, are also almost always to our detriment – and toward intentional but distant priorities.

Here’s a preview:

[5:45] The psychology behind instant gratification: how quick fix thinking changes our brains

[9:50] Why it’s so hard to make new, positive habits stick (and why it’s so easy to pick up bad habits)

[13:00] 4 reasons why humans tend to prioritize quick fixes over long-term goals

[19:00] 5 action steps for stepping away from quick fixes and towards what’s best for us in the future

Further reading/Resources mentioned:

Spying a product and unsure if it’s as good as the marketing makes it sound? Send me the product name and I’ll do the research for you!
10 Reasons We Rush for Immediate Gratification (via Psychology Today)
The Real Issue With Instant Gratification (via Psychology Today)

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Latest podcast:

The Cost of Constant Connection

In this era of relentless connectivity, taking an exit ramp from our digital lives has never looked more inviting. In fact, emerging science is now confirming what many of us feel: Smartphones are draining our cognitive reserves, shattering our focus, and keeping us in a state of low-level chronic anxiety.

To see if there’s a better way, reporter Courtney Lindwall shelved her iPhone for a $45 Nokia flip phone. Courtney is on the show today to discuss the "dumb phone" movement, the logistical friction of navigating an app-dependent world, and why research says our brains are so desperate for a break.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] Continuous partial attention, instinctual muscle memory, and other ways in which our smartphones are working against us

[9:00] Gray scale? screen limits? Here's why the tools and tricks don't work for the vast majority of us

[14:00] Thoughts on our emotional attachments to our phones—and the emotional experiences they provide

[22:00] The psychological benefits of embracing a bit more "friction"

[33:00] Our brains are malleable, and we get used to a new normal quite quickly. Lean into that!

Resources mentioned:

How an old-school flip phone changed my life (via Consumer Reports)
This detox may erase 10 years of social media brain damage, researchers say (via The Washington Post)
The Brick phone access blocker device

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My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

Want to know more? Read my story.