How to Stop Putting Life Off for Later
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 6:49 am
Many of us live in anticipation of the moment when everything will be fine: “I’ll lose weight and my personal life will improve”, “I’ll pay off the mortgage and I won’t deny myself anything”, “I’ll wait for a promotion and I’ll rush to the sea”. But then it suddenly turns out that youth has passed, life has become more expensive, borders have closed. Instead of a bright future, disappointment and devastation set in.
Psychologists unanimously insist that living in anticipation of a bright future means uk whatsapp list denying yourself the chance to be happy. However, those who carefully plan their lives and save are always better prepared for crises. So where is the line between a pathological condition and sober calculation, between marking time and reasonable planning?
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The article will be useful to all who are currently reviewing their life, financial and career plans in search of new points of support. And also to those who suddenly discovered that too much of what was postponed has become impossible, and want to make up for lost time while it is possible.
What is the syndrome of deferred life
This is a set of life principles and actions of a person who believes that real life is not happening now, but only preparation for it : creating conditions, waiting for a turning point - selling an apartment, children coming of age, career growth, salary increase, moving. Moreover, in the future life all circumstances will develop in the most favorable way.
The concept of "deferred life syndrome" was introduced by Russian psychologist Vladimir Serkin in the late 1990s. He studied the behavioral scenarios of residents of Magadan and other northern regions. They were characterized by the confidence that they would truly live when they saved up money and moved to places with a more favorable climate.
Similar behavior was observed in the last century among American students who came to Alaska to earn money, and even among 19th-century Englishmen who found themselves in colonial possessions.
Main signs of the syndrome
There is no sense of pleasure in what is happening, and all hopes are connected with the future.
A person sets conditions for himself: “if there will be a separate office…”, “if we pay off the mortgage…”, “if I learn English…”.
To achieve what you want, something is always missing.
This condition becomes chronic and lasts for years.
The reasons for such behavior may be attitudes from childhood (“first become a human being...” and other vague conditions), events in society (a pandemic, border closures, a crisis - and you want to “put life on pause”), self-doubt (“I’ll lose weight - I’ll start going to the gym”) or a banal fear of change.
If you wait all the time, you might never get it
Here are some typical situations when people are most vulnerable to life deferred syndrome:
Mortgage scenario - purchases and events are postponed until the loans are closed, for ten to twenty years.
Parental scenario - plans are postponed until the child grows up, goes to school, and receives an education.
Intern scenario: the probationary period, short work experience, low salary, and living with parents prevent you from enjoying your success.
The director's scenario - personal plans (birth of a child, travel, purchase of a house, sports activities) are postponed until business goals are achieved. For some, it is the first million, for others, business expansion.
Psychologists unanimously insist that living in anticipation of a bright future means uk whatsapp list denying yourself the chance to be happy. However, those who carefully plan their lives and save are always better prepared for crises. So where is the line between a pathological condition and sober calculation, between marking time and reasonable planning?
Useful material about CRM implementation
How to Save Money
When Implementing CRM:
10 Tips from Experts
For those who want:
implement a CRM system easily and without errors
check how you have implemented CRM and what can be improved
Understand how to save time and money using proven tips from experts
Get it for free
The article will be useful to all who are currently reviewing their life, financial and career plans in search of new points of support. And also to those who suddenly discovered that too much of what was postponed has become impossible, and want to make up for lost time while it is possible.
What is the syndrome of deferred life
This is a set of life principles and actions of a person who believes that real life is not happening now, but only preparation for it : creating conditions, waiting for a turning point - selling an apartment, children coming of age, career growth, salary increase, moving. Moreover, in the future life all circumstances will develop in the most favorable way.
The concept of "deferred life syndrome" was introduced by Russian psychologist Vladimir Serkin in the late 1990s. He studied the behavioral scenarios of residents of Magadan and other northern regions. They were characterized by the confidence that they would truly live when they saved up money and moved to places with a more favorable climate.
Similar behavior was observed in the last century among American students who came to Alaska to earn money, and even among 19th-century Englishmen who found themselves in colonial possessions.
Main signs of the syndrome
There is no sense of pleasure in what is happening, and all hopes are connected with the future.
A person sets conditions for himself: “if there will be a separate office…”, “if we pay off the mortgage…”, “if I learn English…”.
To achieve what you want, something is always missing.
This condition becomes chronic and lasts for years.
The reasons for such behavior may be attitudes from childhood (“first become a human being...” and other vague conditions), events in society (a pandemic, border closures, a crisis - and you want to “put life on pause”), self-doubt (“I’ll lose weight - I’ll start going to the gym”) or a banal fear of change.
If you wait all the time, you might never get it
Here are some typical situations when people are most vulnerable to life deferred syndrome:
Mortgage scenario - purchases and events are postponed until the loans are closed, for ten to twenty years.
Parental scenario - plans are postponed until the child grows up, goes to school, and receives an education.
Intern scenario: the probationary period, short work experience, low salary, and living with parents prevent you from enjoying your success.
The director's scenario - personal plans (birth of a child, travel, purchase of a house, sports activities) are postponed until business goals are achieved. For some, it is the first million, for others, business expansion.