The Role of Precommitments in Maintaining the Brain
Have you ever limited your future options to provide a better outcome for yourself? Precommitments can be a valuable strategy throughout our lives, setting us up for success and helping us to avoid potential obstacles.
If you’re not sure how this applies to your life, or how it could impact the health of your brain, then keep on reading. Today we’re going to explain what it means to make a precommitment, and discuss how we can utilize the power of foreword planning to help us achieve both short and long-term goals.
What is a precommitment?
As naturally fallible beings, humans tend to procrastinate, give in to temptation, and choose the option of least resistance, even when a more difficult decision may result in a better long-term outcome.
This individual response is partly evolutionary, partly societal and cultural, and partly innate. To counter this common issue, we can employ proactive measures, i.e., precommitments.
A precommitment is a deliberate action or decision made in advance as a pre-emptive defense mechanism against challenges that are likely to present themselves.
By using precommitments, we can cultivate a foundation for long-term well-being. Let’s take a look at an example.
Ulysses successfully avoids shipwreck
In his epic infamous poem, “The Odyssey,” we see an excellent example of how a precommitment works. Ulysses is a respected warrior returning home from the Trojan War to the island of Ithaca.
On his journey, he is met with a plethora of supernatural and demanding challenges to overcome. In one particular part of the story, the goddess Circe is seen to warn Ulysses about “The Sirens.”
The Sirens are a pair of monsters disguised as beautiful women with enchanting voices aiming to lure sailors who pass their island with their captivating melodies, before killing them. Knowing this, Ulysses instructs his crew members to plug their ears with beeswax to mask the sound of the Sirens’ songs and tie him to the mast of the ship so that he can hear them but is prevented from swimming to the island and into their trap. The outcome? By making these precommitments, both Ulysses and his crew members avoid falling under the spell of the Sirens.
How precommitments can promote a healthier brain
So now you know what a precommitment is and why it is beneficial, how can you apply this for a happier, healthier brain? Well, commit to things that are proven to promote good brain health and work on establishing long-term habits and lifestyle choices that prioritize cognitive well-being, both now, and for years to come. This can mean committing in advance to:
Keep yourself mentally stimulated
Maintain a healthy balanced diet
Engage in regular exercise
Prioritize quality sleep
Work on strategies to help manage stress.
So, what precommitments are you going to make today to ensure that you honor your brain health going forward? Remember, prevention is better than cure!