Precrastination is described as rushing to complete a subgoal so you can tick it off your to-do list at the expense of extra effort. As a result, you will need more effort later to complete the overall goal.
We are part of a culture that values productivity, but we also desire instant gratification. When you combine the push for productivity with our love for instant gratification, you can fall into the trap of "precrastinaiton."

Precrastination

<ul>
<li>Ask yourself if a task can benefit from added time. Those that require creativity, thoughtfulness, or emotion will need a slower response.</li>
<li>Identify the tasks you can rush through.</li>
<li>Keep a calendar and to-do list. Externalizing what's cluttering your mind will leave you with energy to channel elsewhere.</li>
</ul>

How to avoid ‘precrastination’

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Don't Fall Into the Trap of 'Precrastination'

We live and work in a culture that values productivity (and in turn, profits) above pretty much everything else. But we’re also big fans of instant gratification. (Isn’t the best part about making a checklist adding a few things you’ve already done, just so you can tick them off right away?) As it turns out, when you mix the push for productivity with our love of instant gratification, you can end up falling into the trap of “precrastination.” Here’s what that concept means and how to avoid it.

<a href="https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/drosen">Dr. David Rosenbaum </a> , a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, first coined the term “precrastination” in a 2014 article in the journal <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614532657?journalCode=pssa">Psychological Science </a> . He describes it as “the hastening of subgoal completion, even at the expense of extra physical effort,” but it can apply to tasks (like office work) that don’t involve physical labor.

Basically, you precrastinate if you opt to put in extra effort in the rush to complete a task (and tick it off your to-do list) that may end up being unnecessary with a little more time and planning. Chris Bailey, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/biggest-productivity-mistake-most-people-dont-know-they-make-every-day-work-expert.html">writing for CNBC’s Make It vertical </a> provides this example: You and your team are gearing up for a complex project, and they’ve sent a number of emails asking for clarification on certain points. Rather than taking the time to write back in a thoughtful and deliberate manner or schedule a call to discuss, you send back a series of half-baked replies.

Basically, you precrastinate if you opt to put in extra effort in the rush to complete a task (and tick it off your to-do list) that may end up being unnecessary with a little more time and planning. Chris Bailey, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/biggest-productivity-mistake-most-people-dont-know-they-make-every-day-work-expert.html">writing for CNBC’s Make It vertical </a> provides this example: What’s that one nagging item that keeps rolling over from week to week on your to-do list? Mending… The key here, Bailey says, is to identify when zipping through tasks is a good idea, versus when it’ll actually end up costing you more time in the end. Here are <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/biggest-productivity-mistake-most-people-dont-know-they-make-every-day-work-expert.html">his recommendations for getting stuff done </a> without precrastinating:

<ol><li>Ask yourself, Would this task benefit from added time? Precrastination happens when we’re working on autopilot. Though it may seem counterintuitive on busy days, stop and consider all the tasks on your plate. Those that require creativity, thoughtfulness or emotion will benefit from a slower response. </li><li>Know which tasks you can rush through. If a task takes just a few minutes to complete, it can be helpful to get it done quickly in favor of clearing your attentional space. </li><li>Keep a calendar and to-do list. This might not seem revelatory, but externalizing what’s cluttering your mind is a wonderful thing. Tracking appointments, tasks, distractions and ideas using a notepad or smartphone app allows you to step back and organize. In addition to freeing up mental space, these tools can help you decide where to channel future energy. </li> </ol>

Don't Fall Into the Trap of 'Precrastination'

Precrastination

How to avoid ‘precrastination’

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