The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter—And How to Make the Most of Them Now

by Meg Jay

Present bias is prioritizing the rewards and consequences of the here-and-now over the rewards and consequences of the there-and-then. We would rather have $100 now than $150 next year. We eat the chocolate cake today and say we’ll hit the gym tomorrow. We buy the new jeans today and say we’ll face the credit card bill next month. This isn’t a twentysomething problem. It’s a human problem, one that underpins addiction, procrastination, health, oil consumption, climate change, and, yes, saving for retirement. It is often difficult to imagine and give weight to things that will happen down the line. But twentysomethings are especially prone to present bias. Their brains are still developing the forward thinking it takes to anticipate consequences and plan for the future. And when they do turn to close friends or older others with nervous questions about their lives, they often receive pats on the head and stock phrases like “It’ll work out. You have all the time in the world.”