Scheduled maintenance is planned for June 13 at 4pm, during which time the site will be temporarily unavailable.
.png)
Lately, I have decided to become a bit of a rebel.
Nothing outwardly dramatic. No leather jacket. No protest signs. Just a quiet, very satisfying internal rebellion.
I was listening to a podcast recently about short termism, and the idea lodged itself in my brain. Once it did, I started seeing it everywhere. In how we work, spend, scroll, eat, sleep, and plan (or do not plan), for the future.
Short termism is subtle. Completely normalised. Most of the time, we do not even realise we are doing it. I certainly did not.
But the more I reflected on the impact it was having on my life, the clearer it became that something had to change.
So I made a small but intentional decision. To rebel.
Short termism is a mindset. A way of thinking and making decisions that prioritises immediate results or rewards over longer term outcomes.
It reminds me of the Latin phrase carpe diem. Like many people, I used to think it meant seize the day, often with the implication of living without restraint or consequence.
I might get hit by a bus tomorrow, may as well live it up.
But the fuller meaning is closer to seizing the day while also planning for tomorrow.
I might get hit by a bus tomorrow, so I should make the most of today. But in case I do not, I had better make sure there is food in the cupboard for the week.
A short term mindset takes only the first half of that idea, the now, and ignores the rest.
We live in a culture that actively rewards it.
Think Netflix binges. Fad diets. Doom scrolling. People pleasing. Staying up late to binge a series, then sleeping in because you are exhausted. Dopamine dialled right up.
None of these choices are usually harmful in isolation. But when they become patterns, they start shaping our philosophies and our outcomes.
When it comes to money, short termism is everywhere:
- Buying things simply because they are on sale
- Endless subscriptions
- Lifestyle creep
- Keeping up with the Joneses
- Fast fashion
- Buy now pay later
- Credit cards and high interest debt
- New cars straight off the lot
- Investing in depreciating assets
- Not contributing to KiwiSaver
- Most concerning of all, investment opportunities that promise high returns and quick outcomes, where short term thinking can have permanent consequences
Much of this is fuelled by capitalism, technology, and basic human nature. We evolved to prioritise immediate rewards. In our modern world, we are surrounded by systems designed to exploit that bias. Hello social media.
We are constantly told to move faster, want more, and expect results now. It is an addictive, dopamine fuelled cycle.
I have become much more aware of short termism in my day to day choices.
Often, short term decisions feel cheap. Not morally, but energetically. Fast fixes that leave the tank emptier than when I started.
Doom scrolling at night because I am too tired to read, only to lie awake afterwards unable to sleep, is a classic example.
So I have started asking myself a simple question:
Is this thing I am doing today going to make me better off tomorrow?
For example, am I better off buying lunch every day, or chucking that money into an investment fund?
You betcha.
One of the things I genuinely love about working at Velocity is that what we do feels like the antidote to the short termism many of us have been swept into.
Our advice, products, and services are all geared toward long term thinking. No slick suits. No get rich quick schemes.
We are advocates for graft.
Repetitive. Often boring. Slow. Unsexy. Graft.
But it works.
- KiwiSaver and investments. Managed funds where you put money in now, benefit from compounding over time, and are better off later
- Buying a home. Hard now, but offers stability and capital growth over time
- Investment property. Buy, renovate, hold, earn rental income, and benefit later
- Insurance. Frustrating to pay for now, invaluable when you actually need it
- Financial planning. Takes commitment and discipline. Annoying to budget today, freeing tomorrow
- Debt management and saving. Uncomfortable upfront, empowering over time
None of this is rocket science. It is delayed gratification. The ninth wonder of the world, perhaps.
There is something deeply soothing about this in an age where everything feels like it is moving at full speed. Some things do not change. And good things still take time.
Choosing long term thinking feels like an act of rebellion.
I like that.
We love stories of instant success. Social media thrives on them. But they are mostly fiction.
What we do not see are the years of practice, failure, repetition, and persistence. The unglamorous middle. The long slog. The graft. The unpleasant parts that come with doing anything worthwhile.
Very few things worth having happen quickly. That includes mastery, confidence, health, and financial security.
Often, a lifetime is what it takes.
The sooner we embrace delayed gratification and rebel against short termism, the better off we will all be. And not just financially.
(Insert picture of climate change here).
If any of this resonated, take a moment to pause and ask yourself two simple but important questions:
What am I doing today that my future self will thank me for?
What am I doing now that might be making things harder later?
Choosing long term thinking in today’s world feels almost rebellious.
Don't you want to be a rebel?
Shona.
This article was written by Shona and peer reviewed by our financial advisory team.
Disclaimer: Shona is not a financial adviser. The above is generalised information that has been peer-reviewed by the Velocity Financial Advisory team. As always, before you make any financial decisions, discuss your situation with an adviser from Velocity Financial, and seek advice from professionals, such as a lawyer and accountant, to find the best solution for your unique situation.
About Shona: Hi, I’m Shona, the communications and marketing support person for Velocity Financial. Designing effective communications in a complex industry such as Finance is a worthy challenge. Finding ways to bridge gaps between complex financial information, and the everyday needs of people trying to navigate that world through informed choices, is something that I relish. I love deciphering and disseminating the expert knowledge and ideas of our clever team, into simple messages that speak directly to our clients, who are hungry for more knowledge and better understanding (like me!). In my outside life, I am a keen photographer and, like others in the team, I have a passion for the outdoors, hiking and mountain biking. I also train in martial arts and have been known to wield a sword on occasion.
Always get professional advice
The information shared in this post is meant to be general guide to support you on your journey. When making important decisions about your finances, we encourage you to seek independent financial advice first, tailored to your unique situation. As well as talking with a financial adviser, make sure you talk to your lawyer and accountant too – together they'll help you find the best solution for your specific situation. Our knowledgeable financial advisers are here to help. Check out our website for the details about our financial advisory services in our disclosures https://www.velocityfinancial.co.nz/disclosure-statement.