Temptation Overload: This Manipulative Tactic Destroys Your Life

Photo by Nathália Rosa on Unsplash

Have you ever gone grocery shopping planning only to buy healthy food, but found your cart full of junk food when you're at the checkout? Or have you ever told yourself you were only going to spend X amount of time scrolling through social media or watching TV? But you found yourself spending much more time on it instead?

If you've answered "yes" to either question, then you've experienced temptation overload.

What is temptation overload?

Temptation overload is the effect that too many enticing choices have on your brain.

It happens when you cave into bad habits and choices due to being around too many temptations.

Temptation overload is the point where your discipline crumbles, without you even realizing it. In a mere matter of seconds, your initial plan has gone out the window. You were too weak to resist.

The truth about temptation overload

You see, temptation overload is a common occurrence. It happens to some of us every single day.

Life has become easier than ever. We live in an era of abundance. High-calorie food is available 24/7. We live in shelters that protect us from the elements of mother nature. Technology keeps us entertained with an ever-expanding library of interesting and engaging content.

As the quality of living has increased thanks to new technology, our discipline and self-control have decreased. We have less willpower than we used to have. Or perhaps we need to use it more than our ancestors. There are too many bad choices vying for our attention.

But you’re not the only one to blame if you caved into these bad choices and couldn’t resist the temptations. But it is your responsibility. You know you made a bad choice. As a result, you feel guilty or shameful afterward.

You see, it takes more discipline than ever to be able to resist temptations.

Junk food is marketed in bright, flashy colors to draw your eye in. Some of this junk food is even marketed as healthy. Who wouldn’t want a highly palatable food that seems “healthy?” And junk food is always placed in convenient locations that force you to walk by it on your way to check out. Most grocery stores place candy, chips, and sodas in the grocery aisle. Grocery stores and junk food use your psychology against you to make more sales.

Row after row of high-calorie, sugary foods place stress on your mind. It fights an internal battle between doing what’s best for you and doing what will give you instant gratification now.

Social media engineers design social media apps to get you addicted to them. They use your psychology against you (just like with junk food).

They want you to keep anticipating what you're going to see next... The suspense is irresistible. Social media apps steal your attention.

In essence, temptation overload is being used against you by companies who want to profit off you. It’s a disgusting, yet genius sales strategy.

They're able to hack your mind because it is too weak.

Hacking weak minds is like stealing candy from a baby... It's too easy.

How to overcome temptation overload

Strengthen your mind so you can overcome these temptations. Build discipline, self-control, patience, and long-term prioritization.

Reduce the amount of time you’re around these temptations. Keep them out of your house. Delete the apps you’re addicted to. Block websites on your computer if you need to. Only go to the grocery store when you need to. Make a list of everything you’re going to buy BEFORE you go. And once you’re at the store, stick to the list. 

Another strategy is to let your temptations “fade into the background.” In other words, stop paying attention to bad choices that tempt you. Let the junk food become part of the store’s decor. Focus on the healthy, nutritious food you’re looking for. Put the blinders on.

Overcoming temptation overload is challenging. But it will improve your quality of life. And you’ll then be back in control of your life.