Details- Job was high-risk/ high-reward. Extremely variable pay range. Was not required to go and did not have schedule, but did have a ~2 hour window of when a good arrival time was. Actual work was boring and stressful. No feelings of accomplishment besides earning money.
Risk-aversion factor: I found it extremely difficult to make myself go to work when there was a small probability (maybe P=.15) that I would make very little money, even though there was a much higher probability (P=.5) that I would make a lot of money. This was worsened by the fact that the possibility of large amounts of money made what would otherwise be considered a lot of money seem terribly tiny by comparison. Example using random numbers- If you expect to make $500/hr, then only making $100/hr seems unacceptably small, even though by any other standard it’s really good. Recognizing this affect does not really alleviate it.
Default “strategy”: I would earn whatever I needed that month in the first two weeks, and just not go the other two weeks, OR I wouldn’t work the first two weeks, and then would work the second two weeks once bills came due.
Generally Unsuccesful Strategies:
1) Tried setting up a point and reward rule system. Rules were that I had to go 3 times a week, including one weekend day. I had points based on how much I made that would allow me to “earn” days off. Worked better than nothing, but not well enough.
2) “Getting in the Groove”- The more I worked the easier it was to go more often. If you get into the habit of going every other day, then it is easy to continue the habit. Of course the reverse of this is being in a “rut”- The longer it’s been since you’ve been to work, the harder it is to get yourself to go back. This is always bound to happen sooner or later, due to scheduling conflicts, injury, etc.
3) Seeing that I didn’t have the impetus to get myself to work, I made a reward system with a boyfriend that placed the impetus for getting me to work on him. This actually worked pretty well, but only so far as he had time for it.
Successful Strategy: Switched careers. Current job (child care) is highly-scheduled, low-stress, and set wages. Feelings of accomplishment, and being needed/appreciated. Get to read or surf internet at work (I’m working now!). I have to work about 4x as many hours, but am much more happy and relaxed.
EDIT: This may not seem like a strategy for dealing with akrasia, but I think finding what you have trouble with, admitting that it is a major obstacle, and re-directing your life to avoid it, is a highly effective strategy. It’s the same way that I realized I should only take about 2 classes per quarter.
INSTANCE: Going to an unscheduled job
Details- Job was high-risk/ high-reward. Extremely variable pay range. Was not required to go and did not have schedule, but did have a ~2 hour window of when a good arrival time was. Actual work was boring and stressful. No feelings of accomplishment besides earning money.
Risk-aversion factor: I found it extremely difficult to make myself go to work when there was a small probability (maybe P=.15) that I would make very little money, even though there was a much higher probability (P=.5) that I would make a lot of money. This was worsened by the fact that the possibility of large amounts of money made what would otherwise be considered a lot of money seem terribly tiny by comparison. Example using random numbers- If you expect to make $500/hr, then only making $100/hr seems unacceptably small, even though by any other standard it’s really good. Recognizing this affect does not really alleviate it.
Default “strategy”: I would earn whatever I needed that month in the first two weeks, and just not go the other two weeks, OR I wouldn’t work the first two weeks, and then would work the second two weeks once bills came due.
Generally Unsuccesful Strategies:
1) Tried setting up a point and reward rule system. Rules were that I had to go 3 times a week, including one weekend day. I had points based on how much I made that would allow me to “earn” days off. Worked better than nothing, but not well enough.
2) “Getting in the Groove”- The more I worked the easier it was to go more often. If you get into the habit of going every other day, then it is easy to continue the habit. Of course the reverse of this is being in a “rut”- The longer it’s been since you’ve been to work, the harder it is to get yourself to go back. This is always bound to happen sooner or later, due to scheduling conflicts, injury, etc.
3) Seeing that I didn’t have the impetus to get myself to work, I made a reward system with a boyfriend that placed the impetus for getting me to work on him. This actually worked pretty well, but only so far as he had time for it.
Successful Strategy: Switched careers. Current job (child care) is highly-scheduled, low-stress, and set wages. Feelings of accomplishment, and being needed/appreciated. Get to read or surf internet at work (I’m working now!). I have to work about 4x as many hours, but am much more happy and relaxed.
EDIT: This may not seem like a strategy for dealing with akrasia, but I think finding what you have trouble with, admitting that it is a major obstacle, and re-directing your life to avoid it, is a highly effective strategy. It’s the same way that I realized I should only take about 2 classes per quarter.