The Power of Delay

Delay is presented as a practical way to handle anger, unwanted requests, and habits you are trying to break. The page says the pause often gives the urge time to pass, so the person can return to what matters instead of acting immediately.

Reading notes

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• A boss used delay with donation seekers and demanding colleagues, telling them to come back later instead of answering right away.
• The writer says delay worked well for breaking the habit of going back for seconds, because the hunger would subside.
• Delay also helped with urges to check email or favorite sites, since the writer could return to book writing first.
• The same strategy is used for buying things online, by telling oneself to wait until tomorrow or one more day.
• When the urge is to snack, the writer keeps busy with work, family help, or unanswered emails until the urge passes.
• Delay can also be used to postpone video games, YouTube, smoking, or criticizing someone.
• The page says not to delay creating, helping people, building something, being supportive, or appreciating little things in life.
• For what matters, the advice is to act at once and not wait.