---
title: Burn The Boats
date: 2025-08-16T03:59:13.169234
author: Charlie M.
category: SIGNAL
---
The sun peeked through my blinds this morning, casting stripes across my wall like that old zebra-print scarf I never wear but can’t get rid of. So, there I was, lying in bed, debating whether to actually get up and enjoy the morning glow or stay buried under the covers with my phone. Spoiler: the phone won.
Scrolling, scrolling, and, oh look, another motivational post telling me to “burn the boats” if I ever want to achieve my goals. Was it Cortés who did that? Yeah, probably him. Back in the day, conquering something or other. The idea is that he eliminated retreat, and bam, full commitment, because there’s literally no going back. But, like, is that really necessary? Does not having a backup mean you actually succeed more? I don’t know, but it kinda sounds insane. Then again, maybe there’s something to it.
I read somewhere, maybe in a study or an article, that using these pre-commitment strategies—think, no retreat options—can increase goal achievement by around 400%. Like, that’s a huge number. But, also, how do they even measure that? Are we talking about life goals or just sticking to a diet for a month?
Anyway, deleting my social media apps always feels like my version of burning the boats. I’ve done it so many times, thinking, yeah, no distractions, I’ll be super productive. But, usually, it just leads to me reinstalling them by the weekend. It’s like I’m Cortés but with an undo button. Maybe I’m not cutting off enough retreat lines? Or maybe, just maybe, I don’t actually want the things I say I do.
This whole idea of commitment devices—like, literally devices that keep us committed—is intriguing but also kinda makes me laugh. I mean, are we that bad at self-control? Definitely. But how does that really work? Is it about the fear of failure or just not having another option? The fear of missing out on my own goals, if that even makes sense.
And then I think about those mornings I force myself to work out, treating the snooze button like it’s covered in molten lava. Some days I do it, and it feels like winning the lottery. Other days, the bed is my island, and I’m not burning it for anything. So, does setting my alarm across the room count as a commitment device? Maybe. Maybe not.
There’s this voice on repeat, questioning if cutting off all retreat options is actually the way to go. I mean, what if we realize halfway through we’re headed in the wrong direction? No boats means no easy way back. But then again, maybe the struggle and hard choices are part of the point. Or maybe I’m just making excuses for not trying hard enough. It’s not like I’m plotting to invade the Aztec empire or anything.
So yeah, another morning, another existential debate over coffee and Instagram. There’s something about all of it that feels both inspiring and utterly ridiculous, like wanting to live a life without escape hatches but also wanting the coziness of easy exits. Burn the boats? Maybe. Or maybe not. I don’t know. The jury’s still out on that one.