What is Pre-crastination - The Dark Side of Getting Things Done

Source:bannerhealth.com

The action of voluntarily delaying and putting off performing an action, knowing the negative consequences that come with it is called procrastination. It is not looked upon as a virtue, as it hinders one’s health and productivity, but in recent times, studies have discovered that it stems from habitual guilt, inadequacy and depression. It has also been studied as a cultural phenomenon, as workplaces around the world can either choose to pinpoint the completion of a job only after it has been finished to perfection, or allot a specific time period for it to have been finished. 

You’d think that the opposite, rushing to finish things before they’re actually done, would be an apt solution, right? Not exactly. 

Precrastination is exactly what it sounds like: the compulsion to immediately complete tasks without concern or second thought for one’s physical and mental condition. It was first coined by psychology professor David Rosenbaum in 2014, in a study titled “Pre-crastination: hastening subgoal completion at the expense of extra physical effort.”  

Let's put it this way, the procrastinator puts important, urgent tasks for tomorrow, the precrastinator wants to finish every task slated for tomorrow or day after or next month right this second. 

Why do people precrastinate? It comes from similar origins to its evil twin, procrastination. Procrastination any task is accompanied by a strong, uncomfortable emotion that the human mind has an urge to dispel. (Some of those emotions include anxiety, fear, etc.) So we choose to put off doing our tasks to avoid feeling it, without taking into account the long term effects of not finishing the task on time. 

Similarly, precrastination involves making a decision based on what feels good in the moment rather than what’s in our long-term interest. Choosing to ignore a mounting feeling of anxiety to finish today what can be done patiently and with keen interest on a freer and happier day is just as bad as ignoring a deadline for a bill to be paid. Research shows that human beings tend to derive more satisfaction from finishing smaller, quicker tasks with small time frames over more long term ones. Checking off things on a to-do list gives quicker satisfaction than devoting time and effort to huge tasks. 

People who tend to be diligent, attentive, and hard-working often suffer more from precrastination than procrastination. These kinds of people always choose to get things done rather than let their energies stew and marinate. With that kind of mentality, it is easier to want to check things off rather than contemplate which tasks are worth your time and energy. 

So how does one find a healthy balance between the two?

Our skewed priorities when it comes to time vs energy management also plays an important role. We are taught, from when we were students, instructed to attend exams in such a way we don’t have any questions left over, to either finish the easy questions first and then go on to the hard ones, or consume your energy on the hard ones first and then relax on the easy ones. But in an actual work environment, it is more complicated. It is always better to manage your energy, rather than your time. Trying to finish something in one hour when you know you aren’t feeling well will definitely be futile. 

For example, if you know you have better energy to work in the evenings rather than mornings, pick your evenings to start your work. You’ll get more done, and you’ll also feel good about how much you have finished. 

Another helpful tip is to try and analyse your working habits, and figuring out what you try to avoid and what you are eager to do. You could also figure out if you work best when you are alone or when you are a part of a team or are simply with company. After doing so, you can try to mould your work accordingly so that you don’t get carried away with doing too much or too little. 

Whether it is hoping for even the tiniest bit of satisfaction or to ward off the most intense of anxiety, in the end, putting things off or doing them too early all boils down to our emotions. The more we practice facing our negative emotions and letting them be, the easier it becomes to live with them in the future. The problem is, most of us are in the habit of instantly trying to escape from painful emotions. Which means we never get the chance to develop a tolerance for them. Involve yourself in more leisure activities every now and then, especially the kinds that provide a bit of relaxation or focus on more calming activities. 

Finally, always keep in mind, your worth is tied to how you see yourself, not how much you have completed or accomplished.