As a minimalist, one powerful strategy for managing consumption is delayed gratification.

For instance, instead of immediately watching a YouTube video that catches my eye, I save it to the Watch Later playlist.

Something interesting happens when I do this: I often lose interest in many of these saved videos.

This phenomenon is rooted in what psychologists call the "novelty effect."

Essentially, our brains are wired to release dopamine in response to new stimuli, which drives us to continually seek out new information.

By introducing a delay, we can circumvent this initial dopamine rush and make more intentional choices about our media consumption.

In fact, I've noticed that I tend to enjoy the videos I eventually choose to watch from my Watch Later playlist more than if I had watched them impulsively.

This idea of delayed gratification can be applied to other activities, like turning on Netflix for a specific show you're excited to watch.

This allows you to sit down and truly enjoy the experience, as opposed to turning on Netflix out of boredom and trying to find something bearable just to pass time or alleviate boredom.

I take this idea further by keeping a movie list in Notion. While I'm not a frequent moviegoer, having a curated list of recommendations ensures that when I do decide to watch something, I have quality options to choose from.

Other Examples of Delaying Gratification

For articles and newsletters, I use a dedicated "read later" app called Reader, which is part of the Readwise premium plan.

For social media and other distracting apps on my phone, I use an app called OneSec. This app makes me wait a few seconds before opening these apps, giving me a chance to think if I really need to use them right then.

Lastly, I also apply this idea when buying things, particularly those that are non-urgent or non-essential. I usually wait about a week before buying something, or longer if it's expensive.

This pause allows me to reflect and ensure that my purchases are intentional rather than impulsive.

By applying the idea of delayed gratification to various aspects of our lives, we can become more mindful and intentional in our consumption.