10 Easy Ways To Practice Delayed Gratification In Everyday Life

Delayed gratification is becoming a lost concept. But if you want to do it, here is a list to choose from. Do just one of these things today and see the difference it will make. 

Waiting, pauses, and boredom are all (or should be) normal parts of life. In 2026, we live in a world where instant everything has made waiting nonexistent. So much so, that sometimes we have to consciously force ourselves to take a step back and untangle ourselves from the noise and pace of everyday life. 

1. Wait 48 hours before buying something

It is so easy to hit add to cart, or hop in your car and head to the store to buy that thing you saw in an ad. The thing is, most impulse purchases don’t survive too long if you stop thinking about them. The ones that do survive are probably worth it. 

2. Put your phone in another room for the first hour of your day

How attached are you to your phone? Starting the day without immediately reaching for that smartphone stimulation is harder than it sounds. Try it anyway! Being a little uncomfortable in this regard is the point. 

3. Don’t message back right away 

We get that notification pop up, we see the name, the message preview, absolutely have to respond! Actually, no, you don’t have to! There was a time, once, where we as humans were not available 24/7. You do not need to reply instantaneously. Let an hour, or even a few, pass before reply. This can help you become less reactive.

4. Sit for 10 minutes without any screens 

Just sit there. Look around maybe. Let your brain be unstimulated for 10 minutes (there are 1440 minutes in a day, you can manage 10). It will feel uncomfortable. That discomfort is what delayed gratification feels like in real time. 

5. Walk instead of driving 

Sometimes it can take longer, but that is the whole point. Next time you have somewhere to go that is a 5 minute drive and 15 minute walk, put on a comfy backpack and go there on foot. 

6. Do the same thing for 30 days straight

Whether it be committing to exercise more, to something work-related, to something out of your comfort zone that you have been putting off for the longest time. Pick something, do it for 30 days straight. See the difference that time, patience & consistency makes. 

7. Take a class

Some would argue that most forms of post-secondary education are classic examples of delayed gratification in action. Those who take the time to learn new things and better themselves know that hard work pays off - often literally. Taking a class, course, or any form of structured learning that helps you expand your knowledge and perspectives can only make you stronger. 

8. Watch a show the old-fashioned way

Remember the days when a cliffhanger episode would leave you wondering for a whole week?! That doesn’t happen as often nowadays (though some new shows are released to streaming platforms one episode per week). Instead of binging, challenge yourself to watching one episode per week (and at the same time for an extra challenge!). See how your mind will wander as you have that one week between episodes to digest what you saw. 

9. Cook from scratch instead of ordering 

Tiredness at the end of the day with zero willpower to answer the neverending question: what’s for dinner? Yup, been there. Ordering in feels like the easy way out. It is, but ordering food can easily creep in as an overspend in your budget. The next time you feel like you need to order in, cook instead. 

10. Read a book cover to cover

Or an e-book, or an audio book. Let your mind take in an entire story or concept from start to finish. Don’t let modern distractions keep you from reaching your goal. 

These might seem like small habits, and they are. But small, consistent changes lead to big changes, and usually advantages, over time. That is kind of the whole point. Delayed gratification isn’t about making huge changes to your life. It’s about sometimes choosing the slightly harder, slightly slower option, on purpose, and a little bit more often than you currently do. 

Choose one thing from this list, and try it today. Even just one. See what happens.