(MoneyHippo.com) – Officially a technique since 2014, people have practiced temptation bundling for much longer. The method involves taking a guilty pleasure and pairing it with a task you don’t want to do. For example, try watching reality TV while doing taxes. 

According to Psychology Today, the combination of “guilt and boredom” should cancel each other out, resulting in successfully completing duties. You can even use the technique to help in your financial life.

Write down all your financial tasks, including saving, investing, tax preparation, and bill paying. For each item you find unpleasant, pair it with something you enjoy. For instance, pay monthly obligations while listening to your favorite tunes.

You can use this method in other aspects of your life as well. Model Thinkers suggests eating a sweet snack while making phone calls you’ve avoided placing, but you could also easily use that idea to sock money away for a rainy day. As you’re moving cash from checking to savings, eat something you love or watch a movie you’re dying to see.

Continuing to procrastinate on to-do items can negatively affect your life, especially if those tasks involve money management. Try using this combination technique to get the job done.

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