HMN 2025: Pre-crastination and the science of doing too much too quickly.

We’ve all heard of procrastination – the art of putting off until tomorrow (or next year) something you could do today. But have you met that passionate cousin? predetermination? Instead of sitting on the couch while a deadline approaches, pre-blockers are busy responding to emails seconds after they arrive or carrying heavier groceries to avoid a second trip.

created by a psychologist David Rosenbaum and colleagues, 2014Pre-crastination is the tendency to get things done as quickly as possible, even if it means putting in extra effort. Why do people get discouraged ahead of time and not be as heroic as it seems?

The Science of Doing Too Much Too Fast

Imagine you are standing in a room with two buckets. One is closer to you and the other is further away. You have to get them both to the finish line, but which one will you get first? Logic tells us that we can save effort by walking less by using the bucket further away. But most people think Rosenbaum’s original bucket experiment I chose the closer one and the longer carry. They wanted to cross off their mental to-do list as quickly as possible. Welcome to pre-crastination.

more Recent research We have introduced a creative way to understand pre-grinding through the so-called double reaction reaction time task. In this experiment, participants had to make two sequential decisions on each trial. The first response was made quickly, and the second allowed for potential reflection and revision. The researchers measured the time and accuracy of each response to reveal the dynamics of decision-making. The results were amazing. Participants consistently invested more time in their first decision, prioritizing careful consideration and rarely modified their initial choice. This pattern of behavior highlighted a strong preference for solving cognitive tasks in advance and minimizing the mental effort required to re-make decisions later. As might be expected, rather than acting impulsively, participants demonstrated a deliberate effort to “think first and act once,” a hallmark of predecision.

Why do we commit prior crimes?

Research shows that pre-pregnancy behavior stems from a deep-rooted desire to reduce cognitive load. The cognitive load reduction hypothesis suggests that our brains crave clarity and order. By tackling tasks early or making decisions in advance, we free up our working memory for other demands and avoid the mental strain of juggling too many unresolved options. One factor that influences this behavior is: self-control. Individuals with high self-control tend to start tasks faster, not because of impulse, but to alleviate mental distraction and regain focus. It is more important to create mental stability than to make hasty decisions. For example, you can book a vacation months in advance, even if you miss a last-minute appointment. Think of this as the mental equivalent of Marie Kondo living her life. Clearing away the clutter sparks a bit of cognitive joy!

Predetermination and Delay

If procrastination is the villain who misses deadlines, procrastination can also be the misguided superhero. Sure, it feels productive to get work done early, but sometimes that “productivity” can lead to inefficiency. Consider submitting a draft of your project too quickly only to realize it needs further improvement, or, as researchers found, choosing to do something closer and exhaust yourself in the process.

A few pointers can help you check your inner preclassifier.

1. Pause before acting
   If you’re in pre-preparation mode, train yourself to pause for a moment. Take a moment to think about whether rushing a task will save you time or create extra work.
2. Split the work
   By breaking larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks, you can reduce cognitive load without sacrificing efficiency. Focus on completing meaningful parts rather than rushing to get everything done.
3. Learn your priorities
   Not all jobs are created equal. Develop the habit of prioritizing things based on importance and impact. Preprocessing may be appropriate for quick and easy tasks, but important decisions deserve careful consideration.
4. Use your calendar wisely
   Spread your workload throughout the week. Pre-crastinators often do tasks first, resulting in burnout. A balanced schedule helps you maintain energy and focus.

Whether you’re a bucket-load procrastinator or a chronic procrastinator, take a moment (but not too long) to think about your personal tendencies. The sweet spot is probably somewhere in the middle. Act when the time is right, wait when it’s wise, and remember that clearing away mental clutter doesn’t mean overloading your physical or emotional self.