avatarCarrie Kolar

Summary

The article discusses strategies for overcoming Shiny Object Syndrome, a tendency to chase after new interests at the expense of following through on existing commitments.

Abstract

Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) is characterized by the constant pursuit of new interests, which leads to a lack of focus and progress on one's goals. The author of the article shares personal experiences with SOS, particularly in the context of online learning, and offers a three-step method to combat it: removing exposure to new distractions, gamifying progress on current tasks, and maintaining a disciplined focus. The article emphasizes the importance of commitment and self-awareness in managing SOS, which can be driven by self-doubt and fear of success, and suggests that by controlling one's environment, leveraging habit-tracking tools, and staying vigilant against distractions, individuals can regain control over their goals and achieve meaningful results.

Opinions

  • Shiny Object Syndrome is seen as an obstacle to personal growth and achievement, likened to a mythical will o' the wisp leading one astray.
  • The author acknowledges that SOS can stem from a reluctance to commit and a fear of success, which manifests as continuous searching for the "perfect" solution or tool.
  • SOS is not inherently bad but becomes problematic when one is unable to stop seeking new opportunities and fails to act on their current goals.
  • The author suggests that removing oneself from sources of distraction, such as unsubscribing from newsletters, is crucial in resisting the allure of new shiny objects.
  • Gamification of tasks is recommended as a way to provide dopamine-driven rewards for maintaining focus on original goals.
  • The article warns against the brain's tendency to seek distractions from other areas of life, such as impulsively deciding to train for a marathon, when it cannot obtain new stimuli from the usual sources.
  • The author believes that individuals have the power to control their minds and resist shiny objects by following the outlined steps, leading to better results and financial prudence.

How to Defeat Shiny Object Syndrome

What, Why, and How

Image by Monica Turlui from Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-cat-covered-with-garland-lying-on-bed-7165097/

Oh my god, you guys.

Have you ever logged into Teachable and been deeply unprepared for the physical (digital) proof of your Shiny Object Syndrome?

Cause that is me, right now.

WHAT is Shiny Object Syndrome?

Shiny Object Syndrome, for those of you blessed not to know what it is through painful and expensive personal experience, is the path away from growth and achievement.

It’s when your inner four-year-old comes out to play, and she has your pocketbook.

It is where focus goes to die.

In all seriousness, though, Shiny Object Syndrome is where you get started on one thing, then something new comes along and you go “oh! THAT!” and ditch the first thing to follow up the second thing, because it is newer, and therefore cooler. Awesomer. Shinier.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the ancient tale of the will o’ wisp is actually a Shiny Object Syndrome allegory. The will o’ wisp is a shiny thing that shows up at dusk and leads people to their dooms by tempting them further and further into a bog/swamp/whatever by staying juuuust out of reach, until it disappears and boom, you’re sinking into a godforsaken patch of mud and definitely about to die.

In the same way, Shiny Object tempts you further and further from the path of Getting Stuff Done, until you wind up a year later with eighteen different courses you haven’t started and are no further along towards your goal than the day you started.

Ow. I need to stop @-ing myself so hard in this article, guys. That one hurt.

WHY is Shiny Object Syndrome?

Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) can be a good thing, if you turn your head to the side and squint a little. It means that you have a goal AND you know enough to look for help to achieve it. The problem is when you don’t know how to stop looking for help.

“Ooh, this will help me!” “No, this one!” “No, this one’s definitely it and will make every dream come true!”

Sorry to burst your bubble there, me, but online courses are not Jiminy Cricket. They do not help you wish upon a star and wake up to find every dream fulfilled and now you’re a Real Boy.

Shiny Object Syndrome, at its base, is a reluctance to commit to something. It can mask intense self-doubt (I’m not good enough to make it actually work, so I’ll do this other thing! And THAT other thing! Watch me go!) and an actual fear of whatever-it-is actually working (oh my god, people actually know my name! CUE TERROR).

Sigh.

HOW is Shiny Object Syndrome (stopped, that is)

So, lovely humans, having been confronted with physical proof of our Shiny Object Syndrome and excavated the whats and whys of it, we (you and I) are now going to figure out How To Stop It.

This is a three-part process. Follow me.

Step 1: Remove The Shiny

Fun fact, it turns out it’s really really hard to not fall prey to Shiny Object Syndrome if you have new shiny objects dangled in front of you like, all the time. So, my friend, we must remove the source of the shiny objects.

In my case, that means unsubscribing from newsletters.

“But whyyyyyy,” I wail. “How will I ever keep up with what is happening in the world and hear Todd Brison’s dulcet tones in my head if I unsubscribe from all my newsletters???” *cue copious tears*

Babycakes, I know it’s hard. But we must stay strong. We are committing to things, and besides, the thing we’re committing to is actually one of Todd Brison’s courses. We’ll hear his actual dulcet tones, okay?

*me, nodding tearfully: “okay”*

Awesome, step 1 down.

Step 2: Gamify the Current Object

Some of Shiny Object Syndrome is, unfortunately, straight dopamine-based. Getting the NEW shiny object gets your brain a hit of the good stuff, and you go YES I want MORE!

So, we give our brains more. Sneakily.

Personally, the way I’m doing this is with a habit-tracker app. It does this nifty-ass thing where it shows how long a streak I’ve built up of doing the Original Thing, and I. Want. My. Streak.

Also, every single day that I do the Original Thing, I get to click a button on my app that turns the entire row light blue. Blue row! Progress! DOPAMINE.

Step 3: Focus

“Focus” seems pretty obvious, at this point. But your brain is sneaky. It wants its Shiny Objects, and if it can’t get them in one area, it’ll try to limbo its way into another.

Have you ever decided to really buckle down on your career, then gone, “oh wait, omg, I should run a marathon”?

It seems like a good idea. You’re being healthy! It’s not like it’s a new online course!

Au contraire, mon frere. That marathon is one hundred percent a Shiny Object.

You’re being so good at resisting the work-related Shiny Objects that your brain is trying to slip one from an entirely different life area under the back door when you’re not looking. Be vigilant. Do not be bamboozled.

Focus. You are doing One Thing. You have removed the low-hanging Shiny Object Fruit. You’ve gamified your dopamine hits. Now we buckle down and put our blinders on.

Say it after me: “the marathon does not exist.”

Only YOU Can Defeat Shiny Object Syndrome

Shiny Object Syndrome is one of those things that, like Smokey the Bear says, only YOU can do.

People can’t force shiny objects upon you. If you’re not interested, you’re not interested. You’re in charge of your mind. And while it may not always seem that way (ooooh, SHINY!), these three steps can actually help you take control back.

De-shinify your online life (Step 1), hack your OWN dopamine (Step 2), and harness your incredible power to focus (Step 3). And both your results and your pocketbook will thank you :).

Now once more, with feeling!

“The marathon DOES NOT EXIST.”

Motivation
Shiny Object Syndrome
Life
Life Lessons
Self Improvement
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