Why is the rush to get things done quickly more negative than positive?
2024-08-09 14:44:27
TiranaPost
Efficiency is often considered a virtue in the hectic reality we are immersed in every day. However, there is a phenomenon known as precrastination that challenges this belief. Unlike procrastination, which involves putting off important tasks, "procrastination" is the tendency to complete tasks quickly, even at the expense of quality and priority. While it may seem like an effective time management strategy, "pre-empting" can have negative consequences.
This phenomenon was first described in a 2014 study conducted by David Rosenbaum, a professor of psychology at Penn State University. In his experiment, participants had to choose between two buckets of water and hold them at a certain distance. Surprisingly, many preferred to get the nearest bucket, even if it meant holding it longer. This seemingly illogical choice demonstrated a desire to complete a task quickly, even at the cost of greater overall effort.
"Our findings suggest that the desire to relieve the stress of holding that information in working memory may cause us to physically overexert ourselves or take additional risks," Rosenbaum said. "Their desire to lighten their mental load was so strong that they were willing to make an extra physical effort to do so."
The negative consequences of procrastination
Procrastination brings with it obvious negative consequences that should not be underestimated. First, focusing on less important tasks or finishing important ones quickly can compromise the quality of your work. Rushing can lead to mistakes, lack of depth and superficial solutions.
Additionally, the need to complete every task at once can generate constant stress. The anxiety of doing everything at once can become overwhelming and counterproductive to your mental health. The constant pressure to do everything at once can lead to professional burnout and reduce your ability to think critically and creatively.
An effective way to combat this unhealthy tendency is to postpone tasks that do not have a high priority. "A healthy balance between procrastination and procrastination can lead to effective planning and prioritizing tasks without feeling too pressured to complete them right away," advised Christopher Gehrig, a professor of psychology at Helmut Schmidt University in Germany.
