The Anticipation Trick

(read time: 2 min)

Do you remember how COVID erased all our plans, and how sad it was to have nothing to look forward to? It was mid-2020, and right about that same time new data showed that not only is the value of a future reward important to well-being, but so too is the pleasure we derive from anticipation itself.

Take it from noted author Thomas Hardy, Pleasure not known beforehand is half-wasted; to anticipate it is to double it. (The Return of the Native)

YOUR BOOST

Make sure there is something playful, novel, or exciting to look forward to on your calendar at least every two weeks. And talk about it. “IT” could be as big as a vacation, as simple as a family movie night, or the weekly ritual of being undisturbed during the CBS Sunday Morning Show.

THE SCIENCE

This positive experience of looking forward to something has a name when it comes to behavioral economic theory: Utility of Anticipation. It gives value to the time spent waiting for a future reward.

Lead author, Kiyohito Iigaya and colleagues, observed three key areas of the brain responsible for phenomena of humans to derive joy in the now by anticipating future rewards.

• Your prefrontal cortex (thinking and executive functions, the most advanced evolutionary part of your brain) figures out the value of the action of anticipation

• Dopamine neurons in your midbrain (part of the brain stem, the most primitive part of your brain which controls basic life functions), enhances anticipation by motivating behavior associated with reward

• Your hippocampus (creation of new memories, learning and emotions) then brings it all together by connecting and mediating between the new part of the brain (prefrontal cortex) and the primitive part of the brain (midbrain).

TAKE HOME

There’s something special about looking forward to something and feeling pleasure from doing so. So special in fact that the oldest and youngest parts of your brain work together to make it happen. So no matter what “IT” is, “IT” can bring you so much more joy if you set aside time on your busy calendar, add juicy details (think special touches, like ice cream sundaes for movie night), and talk about it ahead of time.

No shame, no guilt, just more good days,

Nicole