Kyle
asked
Nir Eyal:
"If bound by a (price) pact for too long, we begin to associate it with punishment, which can spawn counterproductive effects, such as resentment of the task or goal." How long is too long for a price pact? Two weeks? 90 days? etc. What should be considered when determining the length of such a pact?
Nir Eyal
It's not so much the length of the pact but the length of behavior we're trying to avoid that we don't want to be too long.
I've had a price pact with myself to exercise for over three years now and it works great, but that's because each session in the gym is only 30 to 60 minutes.
Similarly, price pacts have been shown to help people avoid smoking because a smoke just lasts a few minutes and the triggers can be avoided. But price pacts wouldn't work for the constant urge of nail bitting because it's impossible to get rid of one's fingers.
Remember, price pact are what we do only AFTER we've done the other three steps in the Indistractable model.
I've had a price pact with myself to exercise for over three years now and it works great, but that's because each session in the gym is only 30 to 60 minutes.
Similarly, price pacts have been shown to help people avoid smoking because a smoke just lasts a few minutes and the triggers can be avoided. But price pacts wouldn't work for the constant urge of nail bitting because it's impossible to get rid of one's fingers.
Remember, price pact are what we do only AFTER we've done the other three steps in the Indistractable model.
More Answered Questions
Kyle
asked
Nir Eyal:
One topic I was unclear on is Ego depletion. For example: "...it’s more productive and healthful to believe a lack of motivation is temporary than it is to tell ourselves we’re spent and need a break)." Can you help me understand the difference between these perspectives? Isn't feeling a need for a break the same as believing in a temporary lack of motivation? Thank you! This book has genuinely changed my life.
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