How to achieve your goals using forcing functions - Deepstash
How to achieve your goals using forcing functions

How to achieve your goals using forcing functions

Curated from: teaforthought.substack.com

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What is a forcing function?

It's a mechanism thatĀ forcesĀ you to work towards your goal.

Personal example: Becoming conversational in Spanish

  • I have to attend Spanish class every day on Lingoda in order to get back my money
  • I moved to Colombia to practice my Spanish through daily activities like grocery shopping or taking public transport

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Features of an effective forcing function

  • Stakes-based accountability: The pain you feel from thinking about losing the stake will propel you to take action
  • Requiring consistency instead of motivation: Make showing up consistentlyā€”on scheduleā€”a requirement

Personal Example:

  • The money I paid for Lingoda Spanish classes is substantial (high stakes), so it's painful to lose.
  • The pain propels me to show up for class even when I don't feel like it.
  • BUT: Living in Colombia doesn't require consistency in speaking Spanish (Google Translate exists), and is thus less effective

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Potential Negative Side Effects of Forcing Functions

  • šŸ˜µā€šŸ’« Overwhelm. I clammed up on my first day in Colombia whenever a local tried to converse with me in Spanish. When I got home, I also started panicking about how Iā€™m going to survive the next four months with so little knowledge of Spanish.
  • āœˆļø Slipping into Autopilot Mode. During finals, I went through the motions of attending my Lingoda classes. I stopped preparing for each class and didnā€™t review the class content or my Lingoda instructorsā€™ feedback.

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Don't let side effects/discomfort stop you from trying!

A forcing function is just one of the many tactics you can use to achieve your goals. Theyā€™re effective, but they can also be uncomfortable if the difficulty level or stakes are too high.

If the forcing function is overwhelming, adjust it:

  • work on a smaller goal/milestone/project first
  • reduce the frequency slightly
  • focus on showing up consistently, not how much youā€™ve achieved in a particular instance

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If you liked what you've read...

I find life-tweaking ideas for designing and living an intentional life.

For every concept I discover, I strive to find examples and stories from my own life. This newsletter issue was inspired by my goal to become conversational in Spanish!

I also brew these ideas into Tea For Thought, my weekly newsletter.Ā Come learn with me :)

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IDEAS CURATED BY

kyurikotpq

Developer of solutions, people, and self / Living in 7 countries in 4 years of CS undergrad at Minerva University / Intentional living newsletter šŸ‘‡šŸ¼

CURATOR'S NOTE

A technique I discovered for goal achievement when trying to become conversational in Spanish.

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