The Science of Future You

Read time: 6 minutes

Hey, welcome back.

Last week we talked about how small actions - even boring ones like making your bed or cleaning your desk - play a bigger role in long-term success than grand plans ever will.

​You can read that (and all past issues, here).

By the way, if you're finding these insights helpful, I've started collecting all these tools, resources, and one-sheets in the ever-growing 'Science of Success' vault. Check it out here.

Today, I want to double down on something closely related: the science of future you.

It’s a fascinating topic because it forces us to wrestle with a simple but uncomfortable truth: the gap between who you are today and who you want to be is often a reflection of how connected you feel to your future self.

Let me explain.

Present You vs. Future You

Most of us like to think we’re rational, long-term thinkers. But the research says otherwise.

Psychologists have found that the brain actually treats our "future self" like a stranger. That’s why saving money feels painful. That’s why going to the gym today feels pointless. That’s why we put off the important things - because subconsciously, our brain thinks it’s doing a favour for someone else, not us.

I remember when I first heard this idea, it hit me like a truck. It explained why I could be ambitious as hell on paper, writing out massive 10-year visions, yet still find myself procrastinating on tiny things like sending an email or stretching before bed.

The truth was, I wasn’t connected to future Dan. I didn’t feel what he’d feel, so present Dan just defaulted to what felt good in the moment.

Why This Matters

The problem with ignoring future you is that he or she always shows up anyway.

The calories you don’t burn today, future you carries.
The money you don’t save today, future you has to scramble for.
The health routines you skip today, future you pays for with burnout, anxiety, or worse.

It sounds bleak, but here’s the flip side: every small thing you do today in service of your future self compounds.

Future you can be a liability - or the biggest asset you’ll ever have.

A Simple Trick That Works

When I was going through insomnia years ago, I stumbled onto something that honestly saved me. I started writing letters to future me.

Not some grand life manifesto. Just short notes.
“Future Dan, you’ll thank me for turning my phone off at 10 pm.”
“Future Dan, this run was for you, not me.”
“Future Dan, I’m leaving you a clean desk to wake up to.”

It sounds silly, but what it did was close the psychological distance between us. Suddenly, I wasn’t doing things for some abstract stranger. I was doing them for a version of me who’d be alive tomorrow, next week, next year.

And when you start to feel that connection, discipline turns into care. Procrastination turns into protection.

You’re no longer sacrificing today - you’re investing in someone you actually give a shit about: yourself.

The Research

One of the most interesting studies on this was by Hal Hershfield at UCLA. He used fMRI scans to show that when people thought about their future selves, their brains lit up the same way they did when thinking about strangers.

In other words, most of us are neurologically wired to treat future us like someone else entirely.

But here’s the twist: when people were guided to vividly imagine themselves in the future - seeing their own older face, imagining their future life - they made smarter long-term decisions. They saved more money. They took better care of themselves.

It’s not willpower. It’s empathy - with yourself.

Practical Ways to Bring Future You Closer

Here are some simple, unsexy ways I’ve used to shrink the gap:

• Write a short letter to future you each week. Doesn’t need to be long, just a note of encouragement.
• Do one micro-action each morning that future you would thank you for (bed made, inbox cleared, shoes ready for tomorrow).
• When you want to quit something hard, ask: “Will future me regret this?” Answer honestly.
• Occasionally, visualise your older self - the 70-year-old version. What would they thank you for today?

These things aren’t glamorous. But they change the lens. You stop fighting your impulses and instead start rooting for your own team.

Why This Matters for Success

The reason I call this the “science of future you” is because it’s not about discipline for the sake of it.

It’s about motivation.

You’re not just working out for abs. You’re working out for the version of you who doesn’t want chronic pain at 50.
You’re not just saving money for a rainy day. You’re saving for the version of you who wants freedom at 40, not regret at 60.
You’re not just making your bed for neatness. You’re making it so tomorrow’s version of you feels in control before the day even begins.

And if you zoom out - this is what success really is. A string of micro-actions, stacked day after day, serving someone you haven’t met yet.

Closing Thought

Future you is coming whether you like it or not.

The only question is: when they arrive, will they thank you for what you did today - or curse you for it?

The choice is yours.

To the future,

Dan

SOS (Science of Success) Curated:

LinkedIn of the week: Ghosting candidates isn't a neutral act.​

Podcast of the week: Gut Health Isn’t Just About What You Eat​

My Tweet of the week: I thought I was a procrastinator​

Research Worth Reading

UCLA social psychologist Hal Hershfield used fMRI scans to show that when participants thought about their future selves, their brain activity looked more like thinking about a complete stranger than about themselves.

Those with a greater neural disconnect to their future selves were less likely to wait for larger, long-term financial rewards.

However, interventions like showing participants an aged version of themselves significantly increased their willingness to save for the future.

Key takeaway:​
When your brain treats your future self like a stranger, saving for tomorrow - or making decisions that benefit your future - feels like helping someone else. Start treating that person like you.

Try this:​
Look at an aged version of your face (there are simple apps or online filters for this). It only takes a moment - but research shows it can help you make wiser, future-oriented choices.

​→ Link to stud​y​

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1-1 Coaching with Dan

In my goal to help more entrepreneurs/people who are looking to level up their careers, I've just started taking 1-1 consulting calls (only 1 a week)

Why book a call? Some of my expertise/success:

I've built 5 startups. 1 win, 1 fail, and 3 still going.

E-Commerce: Heights - with revenue over $15M a year.

Community: Foundrs, one of the UK's top founder communities

Podcasting: Leaders Media - bootstrapped media company that makes the UK's top business podcasts, Secret Leaders, with over 50M downloads.

Health/Mental Health: Managed to overcome burnout, insomnia, depression & anxiety in pursuit of success as I talk about in my interview with Steven Bartlett on Diary of a CEO​

Angel Investing: I've invested in over 90 startups

Coached & Mentored: Certified coach & done lots of mentoring

Personal Brand: Have grown to 178k on LinkedIn and X (Twitter) in the past 12 months

So if you're interested in booking a session with me to talk all things business or building a personal brand, book for 30-minutes or 45-minutes. (limited spots).

Science of Success Vault

I'm building a vault of valuable tools, resources, and one sheets that I hope help you succeed.

These will be stored in the ever-growing 'Science of Success' vault - you can always access that here

Want to take your success (even more) seriously? 👇​
🧠 Fuel your brain and feed your gut, try Heights here (use code 'SOSDMS' for 15% off your first month of any subscription

🎧 Check out my podcast Secret Leaders here​

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