Why is it so hard to think about the future? An autoethnographic exploration of future thinking and the future self.

A recent survey revealed that most people do not think about the far future. Most respondents rarely or never thought 30 years into the future, and about 27% rarely or never think even five years ahead (Institute for the Future, 2017). This has major impacts for society, especially with regards to long-term issues such as climate change.

This project explores the barriers to thinking about the future with the aim of investigating how more people might be enabled to participate in future-thinking activities in ways that are both empowering and appropriate to them.

Furthermore, an autoethnography-guided literature review explores how people might foster stronger relationships with their future selves such that they (and society) can better act in the present towards beneficial long-term goals.

The project work culminates in the proposal of five recommendations for those interested in future thinking. The hope is that these will inspire both those who are beginning a personal future thinking practice and foresight practitioners attempting to understand the challenges people face when they are asked to think about the far future.