The decision to sacrifice something today for a benefit in the future is one that we all face every day. Should I have that cheeseburger or those brussels sprouts? Should I hit the gym or turn on Xbox? In the sports world, these trade-off decisions come under more scrutiny than perhaps your mother might put to you, but similar dynamics are at play. One way we help make these decisions is to set long term goals for ourselves that help us prioritize our activities. I want to live a long healthy life so I go to the gym and eat those sprouts (no I don’t).