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An Effective Strategy to Help You Change Your Behaviors
Use commitment devices to stick to your habits and achieve your goals.
In the Odyssey, the ancient Greek author Homer tells the story of King Odysseus’ journey back home from the Trojan War(1).
At one point, Odysseus was about to sail past the sirens, which was a risky affair.
The sirens were seductive, cunning, and dangerous creatures.
They were known to mesmerize nearby sailors with irresistible music and enchanting singing voices.
The spellbound sailors would then steer toward the sirens’ island and shipwreck on the rocky coast.
But despite their fearsome reputation, Odysseus still wanted to listen to the sirens.
So, as his ship was approaching their island, he ordered his sailors to plug their ears with beeswax and tie him to the mast.
That way, he could safely listen to the sirens’ beautiful music and be untied when the ship was once again at a safe distance from them.
The Power of Commitment Devices
In modern behavioral economics, Odysseus’ strategy is called a commitment device(2):
A means with which to lock…
