In my previous two posts I wrote about the value of getting immediate, clear reminders of good and bad uses of time. The Freakonomics blog highlights a few other examples of how challenges like this can lead to improvement.
In an article in the New York Times, authors Dubner and Levitt describe the use of various new strategies to reduce weight. They begin with a woman who has a lifelife plastic model of human fat that she keeps on her kitchen counter as a constant reminder of the result of poor eating. The article goes on to cover the rising popularity of bariatric surgery - the modification of the digestive system to physically limit the intake of food.
Dubner and Levitt place these approaches into the category of "Commitment Devices." Commitment Devices "lock yourself into a course of action that you might not otherwise choose but that produces a desired result." They go back to the story of Chinese general, Han Xin, who assembled his soldiers with their backs to the river so that they were forced to fight without retreat. Other historic examples include Cortes burning his ships on the beaches of Mexico to commit his soldiers to the conquest ahead. You could probably label the use of various chastity belts as commitment devices, and after marriage, the wedding ring is a clear reminder of a commitment to one's partner for life.
Commitment devices seem to abound in the weight loss category. In addition to those above, there are long-term gym memberships, a cost that adds pressure to get one's money's worth; and various meal subscriptions that put healthy food on your doorstep count as well.
I believe the idea of commitment devices clearly fall into the realm of the Challenge Dividend. They force us to re-evaluate our actions and choices. I don't believe such devices alone can solve all issues (especially issues like over-eating which may be genetically driven), but every little step helps.
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