Use the tomorrow test

Try this realistic approach to choosing what to do

How should we decide whether or not to do things? There are lots of opportunities in the world, but I’ve noticed something interesting. People have a much looser filter for agreeing to things that won’t require action until far in the future.

I’m not quite sure why this is. You’re asked to do something in April…but maybe you think it will never be April? Or you think that, come April, you’ll have a lot more space in your schedule. Perhaps you will be an entirely different person in April!

Alas, this is not actually the case. So that’s why I recommend using the “tomorrow test” for evaluating things. When you’re presented with an event or commitment or opportunity, consider whether you would say yes if you would have to do this thing tomorrow.

If so, go for it! If not, consider whether your future self is going to be upset with you for saying yes on his or her behalf.

Now of course you may be thinking that you couldn’t do it tomorrow, because you’re busy tomorrow. But your future self will be busy too. So would you at least be tempted to rearrange your schedule to say yes tomorrow? If not, don’t say yes for the more distant future either.

You can use the tomorrow test for one-off events, and also for longer-term professional projects or personal commitments. If you don't have time in your schedule to start a new project within the next week or so, when will you realistically have the time for it? The same goes for a new book club or softball team or choir. If you can’t make it to the next choir practice, do you really have the time and desire to join the choir after all?

Not only does the tomorrow test keep us from making commitments we end up regretting, it can save us from bad purchases too.

When you buy a new item of clothing that you love, you usually want to wear it the next day, or at least on the next appropriate occasion. You may even invent an occasion to wear it. But if you don’t wear something on the next appropriate occasion, it is probably never going to be a favorite. So if you’re shopping and contemplating buying a new pair of shoes, ask yourself, “Will I wear these tomorrow?” If the answer is not a resounding yes, they’re probably not for you.

The tomorrow test acknowledges that we are still going to be the same people in the future. I’m not saying people don’t change, because they do. Sometimes. But life is not going to be magically less complicated at some later date. You won’t magically have more energy. You won’t have different tastes in clothing either. So when you’re making any sort of decision, evaluate how enthusiastic you’d be tomorrow. That’s a more accurate representation of future you than anything else.