The “What-The-Hell” effect: Why Future You gets stuck managing today’s unfinished business!

It’s Friday night, and you’ve had one hell of a week. There’s a tub of ice cream in the freezer calling your name, even though you promised yourself to keep dessert in check this week. You think, “What the hell—I’ll get back on track tomorrow.” Maybe even tack on an workout next week to compensate. Sound familiar?

This scenario highlights what psychologists call the “what-the-hell” effect. It’s the mindset where, in the face of temptation or decision fatigue, we make a choice that we know isn’t in line with our goals, because we have faith that we’ll “do better” in the future.

At first glance, this sounds innocent enough. After all, we all need a bit of grace now and then. The trouble comes when the “what-the-hell” mentality becomes our default setting. It leads to a cycle where today’s overindulgence creates a new expectation that “future me” will shoulder the burden, without us having to experience any real consequence in the moment. Over time, this thinking snowballs. We tell ourselves it’s no big deal to skip a workout, ignore the pile of laundry, or postpone healthy eating habits—because next week, or next month, we’ll do better.

But here’s the reality: this approach doesn’t just pile up consequences; it also creates a dynamic of procrastination and self-doubt. Over time, we start viewing our future self as some sort of superhuman, capable of taking on the full load of today’s decisions with ease. But let’s be honest—when tomorrow arrives, are we really any more ready to take on the extra responsibilities we left behind?

The disconnect between your present self and your future self can be one of the biggest sources of frustration.

The Cost of Leaving Everything to “Future You”

When we repeatedly expect Future Us to make up for Today’s choices, we risk developing a strained relationship with ourselves. Our future selves aren’t as magical as we imagine—they’re still us, only now they’re saddled with more demands.

So, what does this look like in real life?

It’s that feeling of being overwhelmed by mounting responsibilities. It’s when “extra good” intentions don’t add up and we’re left wondering why we’re stuck in a cycle. Ultimately, this pattern leaves us tired, frustrated and with a backlog of unaddressed goals.

Bringing Self-Compassion Into the Equation

The real magic happens when we show compassion toward Future Us—not by dumping more on her plate, but by making choices today that will ease her load. Maybe that means planning this weeks meals and shopping for ingredients so you’ll have everything on hand to make satisfying meal instead of grabbing take away. That way tomorrow isn’t spent regretting last nights food choices. Or, instead of skipping the workout because you’ll “do it tomorrow,” you opt for a 15-minute walk now, knowing that every little bit does count.

So, ask yourself: Are you currently doling out more work and responsibility to your future self than she deserves or can handle?

Put yourself in her shoes and imagine what it will feel like to be in her situation.

Would she feel overwhelmed? Frustrated? Exhausted?

What can you do today that will make it easier for her then?

Future You will thank you for every small act of kindness you extend to her now!