Stop Finishing Things
sunk-cost fallacy and dumping online courses.
Dear reader,
I hope this meets you well. It’s the rainy season in my part of the world and I’m so excited. Love it when it rains and I’m indoors, tucked under my duvet, but when I’m outdoors? Yeah, absolute nightmare.
There’s a plethora of quotes and advice that encourage people to finish what they started. It’s often seen as a sign of discipline, grit, perseverance and many other admirable qualities. Rightly so, but today, I shall play devil’s advocate by saying, stop finishing the things that you really don’t have to!
Sunk-cost fallacy is the phenomenon whereby a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandonment would be more beneficial.- Oxford Languages.
The sunk-cost fallacy is the reason many people endure drab books, movies, courses on Udemy, relationships, careers etc, even when it is clear that these things no longer serve them.
Some time ago, I shared this article on the Depressing Maths. If those who make it up to 90 years really have only just a few weeks to spend with loved ones, travel, do things that truly matter etc, if the time left on our hands is so short and precious, why waste it on something you do not enjoy?
Please note that this doesn’t apply to that monotonous work that you’re actually being paid to do (don’t lose your job on my account) or refuse to show up for your good friend’s beach-themed party simply cause you don’t like the beach (let’s not throw away responsibility).
But really, as you step into a new week, examine those things in your life you expend hours/energy on and ask yourself: why am I really doing this? And if your answer is because you’ve invested a lot of time on it already and you can identify no benefit, then maybe you should realign your priorities?
Away from my musings, I read pretty interesting stuff this week, so let’s unpack them:
‘I’m Tired of Being Sustainable.’ A piece on how individual efforts cannot solve systemic problems.
How a Football Team Stopped a Civil War. Perhaps the best piece I read all week and I’m not even a fan of football. It also sheds light on Côte D’ivoire’s political history.
A heartfelt, deliciously written piece that contemplates memories, a once existing marriage and a pharmacy closing shop.
The man who lived as a hermit for 40 years. Was nice to read. Definitely not eager to emulate him at all. Give me my electricity and Wifi, please.
You know how sometimes, you might schedule a time in your planner to do work or deep clean your house? This couple keeps a calendar schedule to
fightdisagree with each other. Quite fascinating.Fiction: You Girls Are Good. Sometimes, I might read a story, get struck with admiration and immediately know I would keep going back to it for the next few months. This story is just like that.
Writing Prompt
If you’re new to this letter, you should check here for how the Writing Prompt segment works.
The prompt for this week is:
Write a story and end it with someone saying: “What a day.“
Send in your submission here or publish it on your Medium account and send me the link!
What this newsletter is:
Watching: The In-Between. A story about love, grief and the afterlife. I lowkey think the dead boyfriend should have been exorcised from her life, but no one asked me.
Listening to: Lots of Buju, Mr Eazi and Adele.
That’s it for this week.
Before you go, could you do something for me?
Please share this newsletter with one person you think would enjoy it. And tell them to subscribe too. Thank you.
With love,
Titi.