Two little words

‘I’ll try.’ It’s a convenient phrase that trips off the tongue, but seldom means what it says. Here’s why that matters…

When was the last time you used the phrase ‘I’ll try’? Perhaps it was in response to a request from another person, asking you to take on a task at work or at home. Or maybe it was a pledge you made to yourself. The problem with saying ‘I’ll try’ is that it’s non-committal, and often indicates a desire to procrastinate or avoid the action in question.

Maybe a colleague asks you to review a document, but you’re already busy, so you tell them you’ll try to get it done. Perhaps you tell your partner that you’ll try to remember to post a letter. Or tell a neighbour that you’ll try to make it to their party. Or it could creep into your own self-talk – have you ever told yourself that you’ll try to go to the gym this week, try to eat more fish or try to set aside 10 minutes to meditate in the mornings? Often, saying ‘I’ll try’ translates to ‘I won’t’ or ‘I can’t’.

Off the hook

Saying ‘I’ll try’ can indicate that you’re going to make a genuine attempt at something or give it a go. But more often it can be a hesitant or unwilling half-commitment, or even a bid to avoid the commitment and let yourself off the hook.