Alcohol Shortens Your Perception of Time (Instant Gratification) (E283)

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Learning to put effort into our lives, be patient, and not rely on instant gratification is challenging. Alcohol teaches us that we can have what we want immediately and with no effort. Real life doesn’t work that way. In this episode, I explain alcohol myopia, which is how alcohol narrows our focus and prevents us from accurately thinking about the future. You’ll learn about how your brain is wired for instant gratification and how to start breaking out of this when you get sober.

What to listen to next:

E254: Why You Can’t Make Good Decisions About Your Drinking (or Anything Else)

E263: Sugar Cravings After Quitting Drinking

E265: Rewiring Your Reward System After Getting Sober

E267: Resources vs Support

Resources I offer:

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life

• Weekly emails on Fridays

 Work with me:

• Sober Coaching

Courses:

• The non-negotiable mindset

• Sober milestones: what to expect when you quit drinking

• Willpower Course

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Cite:

Gillian Tietz. Alcohol Shortens Your Perception of Time (Instant Gratification) (E283). Sober Powered. 2025

Please respect my intellectual property and properly credit me if you share my work.

Sources:

1. Steele, C. M., & Josephs, R. A. (1990). Alcohol myopia: Its prized and dangerous effects. American Psychologist, 45(8), 921–933.

2. Oscar-Berman, M., & Marinković, K. (2007). Alcohol: effects on neurobehavioral functions and the brain. Neuropsychology Review, 17(3), 239–257.

3. Crews, F. T., & Boettiger, C. A. (2009). Impulsivity, frontal lobes and risk for addiction. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 93(3), 237–247

4. Verdejo-García, A., et al. (2019). Cognition and addiction. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(11), 951–963.